Farhad Reza grabbed four wickets inside just 14 runs in the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League between BCB South Zone and Walton Central Zone on Monday, probing once again his credentials as one of best all-rounders in domestic play. Before his late outburst with the ball on day two, Zakir Hasan of BCB South Zone scored the fourth First-calls ton in his last five innings in the format. He ended up on unbeaten 107, and riding on his century and fifties from Anamul Haque, Pinak Ghosh and Farhad Reza, South Zone amassed a challenging 387 in the first innings of the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Also read: Unfazed by names, I played deliveries, Mahmudul says after his maiden fifty vs NZ Losing their last five wickets, South Zone added up 126 runs to their overnight total of 261. At the end of day one, Zakir and Farhad were unbeaten for 44 and 46 respectively. While Zakir added 63 more to his innings, Farhad ended on 71 adding 25 more runs. In the sixth wicket stand, Zakir and Farhad added 119 runs to the board. For Central Zone, left-arm spinner Hasan Murad scalped five wickets— his fifth five-wicket haul in the format. Shuvagata Hom and Abu Hider Rony bagged three and two wickets respectively. Also read: Bangladesh hold firm after imperious batting display While replying to South Zone’s first innings, Central Zone’s top order fell prey to Farhad. He bagged four wickets before Central Zone posted 20 runs on the board. But in the unbeaten fifth wicket, Mohammad Mithun and Shuvagata amassed 168 runs and helped the team score 184 for four at the end of day two. Central Zone are trailing by 203 runs. Mithun remained unbeaten for 102, and Shuvagata for 67. It was the second century of Mithun in this year’s BCL. On both occasions, Mithun batted as an opener— his newest role in professional cricket.

Mohammad Mithun hit 176 in the first round of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) on Monday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Mithun and his opening partner Mizanur Rahman added a mammoth 327 in the opening stand with Mizanur hitting 162. At the end of day two, Walton Central Zone posted 430 for two against BCB North Zone with Soumya Sarkar and Salman Hossain Emon remaining not out for 39 and 40 respectively. Earlier, BCB North Zone posted 210 for all wickets in the first innings of the match with Parvez Hossian Emon hitting the highest 46 for them. For Walton Central Zone, Robiul Hoque scalped three wickets and Shuvagata Home took two. Also read: Ashraful hits a fifty, Nasum, Mahedi take five each as BCL kicks off At the end of day two, Walton Central Zone led by 211 runs with eight wickets in hand. “I just wanted to play according to my strength,” Mithun, who opened the innings for the first time in BCL, told in a video message. “Mizanur also played a wonderful innings. When we started well, we wanted to make it as big as possible. We are happy that we could put a big partnership. We will try our best to play like we started and go match by match.” Mithun has recently lost his national team place for his prolonged bad patch in the middle. According to some sources, Mithun was advised to open the innings in the longer version matches by head coach of the national team Russell Domingo. If Mithun can continue to do well at the opening slot, he might get a comeback call to the national team, at least for the longer version of cricket. In the other match of the first round, BCB South Zone are leading by 28 runs with four wickets in hand. Riding on 88 by Anamul Haque Bijoy and 91 not-out by Zakir Hasan, BCB South Zone scored 288 for six in 82 overs at the end of day two in reply to Islami Bank East Zone’s 260 for all wickets. For Islami Bank, right-arm spinner Nayeem Hasan bagged three wickets while Mohammad Ashraful, who hit a fifty with the bat, took two wickets. Earlier, in the first innings of the match, Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan of BCB South Zone bagged five wickets each to wrap up Islami Bank East Zone for 260.