BCL: East Zone, South Zone advance to final after nail-biting finish

Islami Bank East Zone and BCB South Zone advanced to the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), the country's first class cricket, after nail-biting finishes in the 3rd round of the event in Cox's Bazar on Monday.

East Zone ended the league-phase with highest points beating BCB North Zone by eight wickets, riding on a back-to-back centuries by Yasir Ali at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar.

Resuming the 2nd innings with overnight total of 145 for 5, North Zone were bowled out with 269 in 120.3 overs. Mahidul Islam Ankon was the highest scorer for them hitting 44 while Junaid Siddiqui and Sanjit Saha scored 36 runs each.

Nayeem Hasan bagged five wickets for 101 runs in 52 overs. He also took eight wickets in the first innings.

East Zone scored match winner 211 for 2 in 34.5 overs to win the game by eight wickets with Mohammad Ashraful and Yasir Ali guiding the team toward the victory.

Ashraful scored 70 off 86 runs with four fours while Yasir hammered 110 runs off 88 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

Brief score: North Zone 1st innings: 272/10 in 82.4 overs, Mushfiq 140, Naeem 31, Sunzamul 29, Nayeem 8/107, Hasan Mahmud 2/50.

Islami Bank East Zone 1st innings: 331/10 in 116.3 overs;  Yasir 165, Imrul 76, Nayeem 31, Afif 26, Sunzamul 7/115, Sanjit 3/75.

North Zone 2nd innings: 269/10 in 120.3 overs; Mahidul Islam Ankon 44, Junaid Siddiqui 36, Sanjit Saha36, Nayeem Hasan 5/101, Saqlain 2/58.

East Zone 2nd innings: 211/2 in 34.5 overs, Yasir 110, Ashraful 70, Sunzamul 1/61.

Walton Central Zone and BCB South Zone

South Zone resuming the 2nd innings with overnight total 159/4 and batted in the whole (final) day to settle for a draw as well as to qualify for the final. South Zone ended their second innings at 386 for 9 in 144 overs.

South Zone did the second one riding on the superb batting efforts of Shamsur Rahman and Nasum Ahmed.

Shamsur scored 133 off 230 balls with 18 fours and one six while Nasum scored 85 off 246 balls. They showed extreme patience at the Academy Ground of Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar.

In the last wicket stand, Farhad Reza (27 off 91) and Shafiul Islam (1 off 26) batted for 9.4 overs to hand a draw for South Zone.

Walton Central Zone were so close to winning the game, but the last wicket stand of South Zone snatched it narrowly.

Brief score: Walton Central Zone 1st innings: 235/10 in 82.2 overs, Marshall 116, Mustafizur 30, Mahedi 3/78, Shafiul 2/24, Abdur Razzak 2/62, Nasum 2/51.

South Zone 1st innings: 114/4 in 28.2 overs (declared), Nurul Hasan 48, Shamsur 25, Irfan 2/42.

Central Zone 2nd innings: 385/8 in 107 overs (declared), Shanto 253, Raqibul 39, Zabid Hossain 36, Nasum 4/85, Shafiul 2/48.

South Zone 2nd innings: 386/9 in 144 overs, (159/4 Second innings), Shamsur 133, Nasum 85, Anamul 83, Farhad Reza 27, Miraz 4/136, Shuvagata 3/59.