Once again, it was a century from Jakar Ali that made the difference, as Central Zone beat North Zone by 10 wickets to clinch pole position in the Bangladesh Cricket League(BCL). Ali won consecutive Player of the Match awards in the tournament, before his 121 helped Central beat East Zone in the opening round.
A 164-run partnership between Jaker and Sharifullah –
Against North in Chattogram, Abu Haider and Musafiq Hasan took three wickets each for Central as North were bowled out for 169 on the first day. Only Saif Hasan’s 73 was in his ordinary batting effort.
In reply, Jaker and the experienced Sharifullah shared a 164-run partnership for the sixth wicket to bowl out Central for 64 for 5.
Jaker scored his second first-class century, scoring 138 runs in 241 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. Sharifullah scored 83 off 138 balls with nine fours as Central made 335 to take a lead of 166.
Central Zone got to the target in just 17.4 overs –
For North, Tawfique Khan and Akbar Ali hit fifties in the second innings, but they were bowled out for 247, little better than their first innings effort. Haider took four wickets and Musfiq took two as Central needed just 82 runs to win.
Abdullah Al Mamun then hammered an unbeaten 66 off only 70 balls with nine fours and three sixes, as Central got to the target in just 17.4 overs.
