South Zone crush Central Zone in dress rehearsal of BCL final

South Zone crushed Central Zone by 110 runs in Bogra, but both teams have made it to the Bangladesh Cricket League final, which will be held in Cox's Bazar from March 4. South Zone are the favourites, having won this tournament five times previously, while Central Zone will look for their fourth title.

In this game, South Zone reached 313 in 97.5 overs with Shadman Islam scoring his 11th first-class century. He struck 17 fours and a six in a five-hour-40-minute sojourn. He added 110 runs for the fouth wicket with Fazle Mahmud, who made 50, before falling on 130 off 240 balls. Left-arm quick Abu Hider took his sixth five-wicket haul.

Having come into the game with two centuries in two matches, Jaker Ali completed his hat-trick but, Central Zone fell 30 runs short in the first innings after they were bowled out for 283. Jaker, who struck hundreds against North Zone and East Zone before the BPL break, made an unbeaten 138 with two sixes and 15 fours. He was at the crease for four and a half hours, before running out of partners.

Nasum Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed kept South Zone in a strong position with three wickets each, before Amite Hasan's sixth century in 23 first-class matches, gave them full control. Amite made 116 with 19 boundaries, adding 192 runs for the fourth wicket with Mahmud who got his second fifty of the game. Mahmud made 90 off 224 balls, lasting more than five hours, hitting 10 fours.

Young fast bowler Musfik Hasan took his third five-wicket haul, while Hider took four more, to end with career-best match figures of 9 for 126. But Central Zone weren't up to the 308-run fourth innings chase as they were bowled out for 197. Aich Mollah top-scored with 59, while Nasum closed the match with a five-wicket haul, his seventh in first-class cricket.

The East Zone and North Zone match ended in a draw after Naeem Islam got hundreds in both innings of the match, making exactly 107 each time.

North Zone reached 378 for 9 declared in the first innings, with Naeem's century being the highlight. Nasir Hossain, Tanzid Hasan and Mahmudul Hasan Joy got out in the forties, as paceman Abu Jayed took four wickets while left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam picked up three wickets.

In reply, East Zone's Mominul Haque and captain Jahurul Islam struck centuries, adding 194 runs for the third wicket. Mominul made 134 with 17 fours and two sixes, while Jahurul hit nine fours and two sixes in his 103. Shahadat Hossain made 68 too, as East Zone took a 30-run lead.

North Zone made 419 for 8 in their second innings, with Naeem unbeaten on 107. He struck seven fours this time, lasting eight minutes short of six hours. Tanzid made 90 while Aminul Islam struck 62 off 86 balls.