Tanvir, Sharif keep Walton fighting against BCB

Sport Desk: Walton Central Zone lower order batsmen Tanvir Haider and Sharif kept their team in fight when they were trailing a huge total in their second innings against BCB North Zone in the fifth round of the fifth season of Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), the country's franchise based first class cricket tournament.

The duo made an unbeaten 42-run partnership in the 9th wicket. Tanvir was unbeaten on 42 while Sharif on 19 at Stumps on Day 3.

Earlier, BCB posted a huge total of 537 runs in their first innings in response to Walton's 181 which gave them a 356-run lead at Sylhet Divisional Stadium in Sylhet.

Walton, the defending champions of the tournament, are fighting to avoid defeat with only 2 wickets and a whole day left in the match.
 

Batting collapse continued for Walton in the second innings when they came to bat trailing by 356 runs on Tuesday.

However, Walton openers Saif Hasan and Abdul Majid gave a solid start contributing 70 runs in the opening stand. But soon after the departure of Majid who scored 43 off only 44 balls, the defending champions collapsed and lost 8 wickets within 117 runs.

Saif who scored 63, highest individual in the first innings, also added 70 in second innings, highest for the team so far.

BCB pacer Alauddin Babu claimed 4 wickets for 55.

Earlier in the day, BCB were all out just before lunch scoring 537. Three of their batsmen smashed centuries. Among them Naeem Islam scored 142, Nazmul Hossain 123 and Dhiman Ghosh 113. Besides, Allauddin Babu added 54, Zunaid Siddique 41 and Jahurul Islam 35.

Walton skipper Mosharraf Hossain bagged 3 wickets for 125 while Sharif Ullah, Shahadat Hossain and Sharif got 2 wickets each.
 

Earlier on Sunday morning, winning toss, BCB North Zone asked Walton to bat first. The defending champions scored 181 all out in 63.5 overs in their first innings.

Opener Saif Hasan scored highest 63 runs with 8 fours and 1 six. Besides, Taiabur Parvez added unbeaten 40.

BCB's Sanjamul Islam claimed 5 wickets for 45 while Forhad Reza took 3 wickets more.

Walton have thrashed Islami Bank East Zone in the last match to return back to the competition after they were defeated in the first two of the previous three matches. The other match was a draw for which the defending champions have 9 points.

Brief Scores

Walton Central Zone 181/10 (63.5 overs), Saif 63, Taiabur 40* (Sanjamul 5/45, Forhad 3/41) and 229/8 (64 overs), Saif 70, Majid 43, Tanvir 42*, Sharif 19* (Alauddin 4/55).

BCB North Zone 537/10 (134.5 overs), Naeem 142, Nazmul 123, Dhiman 113, Alauddin 54, (Mosharraf 3/125, Sarif Ullah 2/65, Shahadat 2/11, Sharif 2/125).

Walton Central Zone trail by 127 runs with 2 wickets remaining at Stumps on Day 3.

risingbd/DHAKA/Feb 28, 2017/Yeasin/Augustin Sujan