BCL: Nayeem Hasan triggers 9 for 43 collapse as East Zone beat Central Zone

Nayeem Hasan triggered Central Zone's fourth innings collapse and helped East Zone post a 10-run win in the Bangladesh Cricket League. The offspinner took 6 for 48 as Central Zone, who were cruising on 145 for 1 at one stage, were bowled out for 189 in chase of 199.

Nayeem starred with the bat as well, chipping in with 68 in East Zone's second innings to help the team post a modest total.

With the ball, Nayeem broke the 120-run second wicket stand between Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun on the fourth morning. It triggered the collapse, with Central Zone losing their last nine wickets for 43 runs.

That apart, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam took three wickets.

It was a tight contest from the first day. East Zone, who were bowled out for 245 in the first innings, managed to take a lead of 18 runs. Left-arm quick Abu Hider took his third five-wicket haul for Central Zone before Asaduzzaman Payel and Tanvir scalped three each to restrict Central Zone to 227 in their first innings.

However, Central Zone hit back by bowling out East Zone for 180 in the second innings. East Zone slipped to 51 for 6 before Nayeem and Pritom Hasan struck fifties, adding 103 runs for the seventh wicket. Wicketkeeper Pritom struck six fours and a six in his quickfire 54.

It was the first first-class match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium since the pandemic.

The other match, between North Zone and South Zone, ended in a draw at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Batting first, Naeem Islam's 28th first-class century helped North Zone to 385 all out after both openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain got out for ducks. Naeem, who made 137 off 342 balls with 15 fours and a six, put together two huge stands to get North Zone out of trouble. He added 90 runs for the fourth wicket with Marshall Ayub, who made 47, and shared a 160-run fifth wicket stand with Mahidul Islam, who scored 76.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed took six wickets for South Zone.

struck 217, his maiden double-hundred, hitting 16 fours and four sixes in his 387-ball innings. Amite Hasan made 131, his fourth first-class ton, and added 258 runs for the third wicket with Towhid.

Sunzamul Islam and Mohammad Sharifullah took four wickets each, both having bowled more than 60 overs each.

North Zone made 62 for 1 in the remaining 26 overs on the final day as the match ended in a draw.