The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Holders Dhaka Division is in the driving seat on the first day of the four-day round-nine Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 9th National Cricket League dismissing Chittagong Division for 98 runs in the first innings at the Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday.

Batting first after winning the toss, hosts Chittagong Division lost wickets at regular intervals to fold their innings below the hundred mark.

Skipper Ehsanul Haque Shezan scored team highest 36 runs off 62 balls with six fours. Lower order batsman Yasin Arafat (not out 20), opener Gazi Salahuddin (11) and wicket keeper Dhiman Ghosh (10) were the other batsmen who reached double figures.

National colour pacer Mohammad Sharif and Arafat Sunny captured three wickets each conceding 11 and 28 runs respectively while opener Mahbubul Alam Robin and spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel took two wickets apiece for 23 and 31 runs respectively.

In reply, Dhaka Division scored 88 runs for two wickets in 41 overs when bails were drawn for the first day and need only 11 runs to take first innings lead.

Opener Arman Hossain contributed 33 runs off 56 deliveries with six fours while another opener Anwar Hossain and two down Shamsur Rahman remained unbeaten on 30 and 15 respectively.

Brief score: Chittagong Division first innings - 98 all out in 46.3 overs; Gazi Salahuddin 11, Masumuddowla 5, Mahbubul 2, Nazimuddin 0, Dhiman 10, Ehsanul Haque 36, Mazharuddin 3, Kamrul 4, Yasin 20*, Tareq 2, Saju 1; Sharif 3/11, Arafat 3/28, Mahbubul 2/23, Mosharraf 2/31.

Dhaka Division first innings - 88 for 2 in 41 overs; Arman 33, Mehrab 2, Anwar 30*, Shamsur 15*; Yasin 1/12, Tareq 1/34.

At the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, league leaders Khulna Division were struggling at 21 for 2 in 7 overs after they bowled out hosts Rajshahi Division for 188 runs in 56.1 overs on the first day on Thursday.

For Rajshahi, opener Shakil Haider contributed 61 runs of 85 balls with nine boundaries while national colour all-rounder Mushfiqur Rahman Babu scored 33 runs off 65 balls with four fours.

Spinner Jamaludin Babu picked up three wickets for 15 runs while Rabiul Islam, Ziaur Rahman and Aslam Khan took two wickets each for 26, 28 and 44 runs respectively.

In reply, Khulna Division faced initial batting collapse losing two wickets for 21 runs in 7 overs with opener Imrul Kayes and two down Jamaluddin Babu were batting with 5 and 0 respectively.

Earlier, opener Nazmus Sadat scored 11 runs and one down Mustafizur Rahman made 1.

Pacer Delwar Hossain claimed the two wickets for 11 runs.

Brief score: Rajshahi Division first innings -188 all out in 56.1 overs; Jahirul 3, Farhad 1, Shakil 61, Rafiqul 11, Naeem 0, Khaled Mashud 13, Mushfiqur 33, Delwar 4, Anisur 25*, Safiul 13, Saqlain 0; Jamal Babu 3/15, Robiul 2/26, Ziaur 2/28, Aslam 2/44, Fariduddin 1/15.

Khulna Division first innings - 21 for 2 in 7 overs; Nazmus 11, Mostafizur 1, Imrul 5*, Jamal Babu 0*; Delwar 2/11.

In a delayed start match due to fog at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, sent into bat first, Sylhet Division scored 149 for 8 in 60 overs against Barisal Division when bails were drawn for the first day today.

Opener Golam Rahman scored 45 runs off 100 balls with nine boundaries while national all-rounder Alok Kapali contributed 39 runs off 46 balls with eight fours.

Brief Score: Sylhet Division first innings - Sylhet Division 149 for 8 in 60 overs; Imtiaz 25, Sadiqur 0, Golam Rahman 45, Alok 39, Sharifullah 12, Golam Mabud 5, Ezaz 8, Nabil 5, Rashedur 0*, Rezaul 9*; Arafat 3/36, Monir 2/33, Sumon 2/43, Hannan 1/15