Sunzamul's 9 for 80 demolishes Central Zone

Sunzamul Islam's nine-wicket haul in the second innings helped North Zone crush Central Zone by an innings and 50 runs in Chittagong. The left-arm spinner's 9 for 80 are the third-best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in first-class cricket.

Sunzamul, bowling unchanged for 27.4 overs, ran through the Central Zone batting line-up on the third day to become the third man to snag nine in an innings in Bangladesh. The only batsman he couldn't dismiss was Abdul Mazid, who was run out.

Earlier batting first, North Zone posted 502 in 141.2 overs with Junaid Siddique making 181. Nasir Hossain, Dhiman Ghosh and Ariful Haque also struck fifties while seamer Shahidul Islam and left-arm spinner Taibur Rahman took two wickets each.

In reply, Central Zone were bowled out for 233 runs with medium-pacer Farhad Reza claiming 4 for 38 and Sunzamul 3 for 64. Asked to follow on, Central Zone bowled out for 219. Nurul Hasan was the last man to fall, but having scored 113 off 111 balls, he helped a rather quirky incident take place - one team's batsman making a hundred and the other team's bowler racking up nine wickets in the same innings.

South Zone also completed their innings and 44-run win over East Zone within three days in Sylhet. Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain set up the victory with a six- and five-wicket haul respectively.

Batting first, South Zone posted 403 as Anamul Haque top-scored with 89, supported by fifties from Tushar Imran and Ziaur Rahman. Ebadot Hossain took three wickets. In reply, East Zone were first bowled out for 144 in 43 overs. Rubel took five wickets while left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman and offspinner Sohag Gazi picked up two each.

Following on, East Zone ran into the wily Razzak who finished with a 6 for 55 as they were bowled out for 215. Abul Hasan top-scored with 64 batting at No 8.