North Zone lose three in 573 chase

North Zone have a lot left to do on the fifth day of the BCL final as they require another 319 runs to win, while South Zone have to take seven wickets to clinch the title.

North Zone were 254 for 3 at the end of the fourth day, scoring at almost four for 63 overs. They were set 573 to win after South Zone were bowled out for 536 in their second innings.

Farhad Hossain, unbeaten on 85, added 42 runs for the second wicket with Junaid Siddique, and shared an unbroken 128-run fourth-wicket partnership with the captain Nasir Hossain.

Nasir(67 not out) was circumspect for much of his innings, but struck his Bangladesh team-mate Abdur Razzak for four fours in the last session, with two coming in the last over of the day. Farhad attacked the spinners, hitting all nine of his fours against them.

The North Zone openers Maisuqur Rahman and Junaid added 57 for the first wicket in just 10.4 overs as they capitalised on the poor bowling early in the innings. But Razzak ended the partnership by removing Maisuqur for 32. Junaid struck a half-century before being dismissed by Shuvagata Hom in the 24th over.

Earlier in the day, South Zone lost their way as they lost seven wickets for 98 runs. Mithun Ali made 126 off 183 balls but was caught behind off Subashis Roy, who picked up three wickets. Razzak hammered two sixes and three fours in his 24-ball 33 which propelled South Zone to 536.