Shamsur slams double-ton

Shamsur Rahman remained unbeaten on 229 as Central Zone dominated East Zone on the second day. The defending champions blasted 429 for 6 in reply to 303 all out as they eased out a 126-run lead early in the game at the BKSP-2 ground.

Shamsur, who has recently made his ODI debut for Bangladesh and is vying for a Test place, batted at a rapid pace to reach his maiden double-hundred off 233 balls, having earlier reached his sixth first-class ton off just 86 balls. He ended the day on 229 off 260 balls with 24 fours and seven sixes. He got one reprieve late in the day when Mominul Haque dropped him off Mashrafe Mortaza in the 83rd over.

Central Zone's opening pair came out firing after East Zone were bowled out in their first innings early in the morning. They scored 61 runs before opener Shahriar Nafees fell, in just the sixth over. The next four wickets didn't add too much, but Shamsur and Nurul Hasan went after the East Zone bowlers.

The pair added 155 runs for the sixth wicket with Hasan hammering 17 boundaries in his 81-ball 94. It was explosive stuff from Central Zone, who now have the opportunity to nail down East Zone in the remainder of the match.

North Zone and South Zone were on an even keel in their encounter at the adjacent BKSP-3 ground. In reply to North Zone's 421 all out, South Zone ended the second day 289 for 3.

Imrul Kayes and Mithun Ali struck centuries and added 220 runs for the third wicket as South Zone remained in contention for first innings points. Imrul remained unbeaten on 127 with 15 fours and five sixes after completing his fifth first-class hundred. Mithun fell after making 107, his seventh century in the format, with the help of 13 fours and four sixes.

Earlier, Farhad Reza made a run-a-ball 153 with 22 fours and six sixes. He helped North Zone add 90 to their overnight score of 331 for eight. He added 54 for the ninth wicket with Taijul Islam and 57 with No. 11 Saqlain Sajib, who contributed just one run to the partnership .

Farhad started the day on 76 off 88 balls, and farmed the strike well to reach his third first-class hundred, becoming the first of four batsmen to reach hundreds on the day.