Walton-Prime Bank match ends in draw

Sport Desk: Defending champions Walton Central Zone drew with Prime Bank South Zone in their third match of the fifth season of Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), the country's franchise based first class cricket tournament.

The match was called a draw after Walton scored 190 for 5 wickets in 79 overs on Day 4 on Tuesday in a target to 279.

Batting first at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, South Zone scored 260 runs in their first innings. Tushar Imran scored 81 while Sohag Gazi and Md. Mithun added 43 and 42 respectively.
 

Walton's Shuvagata Hom claimed 6 wickets for 91 runs. Besides, Abu Hider and Sharif Ullah took 2 wickets each for 34 and 48 respectively.

In response, 9th first-class century of Shuvagata Hom led Walton to score 299 runs in the first innings with a 39-run lead. Shuvagata scored 100 off 125 balls with 11 fours and a six.

However, South Zone scored 317 runs in their second innings thanks to two half-centuries from Abdur Razzak and Shahriar Nafees. Razzak scored 76 while Nafees got 72.

Walton's Shuvagata also did excellent bowling in the second innings and picked up 4 wickets for 77. Taibur Rahman got 4 more for 52 while Abu Hider took the other 2.
 

Chasing a 279-run target to win in the second innings, Walton lost opener Shadman Islam in the third over on the Day 3 afternoon yesterday. They started batting at 7/1, in the fourth and final day on Tuesday. But lost two quick wickets of Saif Hasan and Meherab Hossain jnr and the defending champions were 36/3 in 21 overs.

However, Shuvagata again played a superb innings and smashed a half-century. He and Abdul Mazid added 91 runs in the 4th wicket partnership. The 30-year old all-rounder was LBW by Sohag Gazi scoring 52.

Another 52-run unbeaten 6th wicket partnership between Taibur Rahman and Marshall Ayub led the match to a draw. Taibur was not out for 39 while Ayub on 17.
 

Earlier, Walton faced a 9-wicket defeat to Islami Bank East Zone in first match and an innings and 50 runs defeat against BCB North Zone in their second match.

Brief Scores

Prime Bank South Zone 260/10 (83.5 overs), Tushar 81, Sohag 43, Mithun 42, (Shuvagata 6/91, Hider 2/34, Sharifullah 2/48) and 317/10 (78 overs), Razzak 76, Nafees 72, Tushar 44, (Shuvagata 4/77, Taibur 4/52, Hider 2/61).

Walton Central Zone 299/10 (91 overs), Shuvagata 100, Saif 49, Taibur 44, (Razzak 4/118, Rubel 2/57) and 190/5 (79 overs), Shuvagata 52, Taibur 39*, Mazid 36, (Rubel 2/41, Sohag 2/54).

Results: Match drawn.

Player of the Match: Shuvagata Hom (Walton Central Zone).

risingbd/DHAKA/Feb 14, 2017/Shamim/Augustin Sujan