The star-studded North Zone won the opening match of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) ODI tournament in Bogra. Batting first against East Zone at the Shahid Chandu Stadium in Bogra, Akbar Ali scored a brilliant century and then defeated East Zone with Rishad Hose’s spin. The match of extraordinary bat-ball skills finally saw North Zone win by 54 runs. In response to North Zone’s 335 runs, East Zone was all out for 281 runs with 2 balls remaining. Akbar Ali of the winning team was adjudged Player of the Match.

In the morning, East Zone won the toss and sent North Zone to bat. After opener Habibur Rahman Sohan returned to the dressing room with 20 runs, another opener Tanjid Hasan Tamim and captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto composed the team’s fear. When Tanjid Tamim was dismissed for 54 runs on his own batting for the team’s 102, North Zone was in trouble after losing Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy by a small margin. However, Akbar Ali came in and formed a strong partnership with captain Shanto to overcome the team’s disaster. This partnership added 120 runs. Captain Shanto returned to the dressing room with 68 runs on his own batting, but Akbar Ali scored the first century of the tournament. He batted in a T20 mood and completed his century with the help of 8 fours and 5 sixes in 81 balls. In the end, the team’s score crossed 300 before falling into the LBW trap with 111 runs off Saifuddin’s ball. In the end, North Zone’s innings ended at 335 runs. East Zone’s Khaled Ahmed took 4 wickets. Hasan Mahmud and Saifuddin took 2 wickets each.

Chasing a huge target of 336 runs, East Zone lost opener Zakir at the beginning. Then, when the team’s top order of 69 runs returned to the dressing room, East Zone came under pressure. In such a difficult moment, the experienced Mominul Haque and team leader Yasir Ali Rabbi took charge of the team. This pair dragged the team to 140 runs. Although Yasir Rabbi was out for 42 runs, Mominul played a brilliant innings of 82 runs. After the team’s 9th wicket fell at 236 runs, Naeem Hasan single-handedly made the crowd drunk. He turned the ODI match into a T20 and unleashed a fountain of runs in the late afternoon. Leg-spinner Naeem Hasan reached fifty in just 43 balls with the help of 7 boundaries. He built a valuable partnership of 45 runs with the last batter Hasan Mahmud. Finally, their courageous journey was stopped at 281 runs. Hasan Mahmud was dismissed by Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain, caught by Nahid Ranrar. Batting at number 11, Hasan Mahmud scored 12 runs. In addition, Parvez Hossain Emon scored 35, Ami scored 22 runs. Rishad of North Zone took 4 wickets, Nahid Rana and Meherb 2 wickets each, and Shariful and Saqlain took 1 wicket each.

Earlier on Monday morning, Bogra Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mejbaul Karim released a balloon to declare the tournament open. A large number of spectators gathered at the field as most of the star cricketers of the national team were present in both teams. In the next match of BCL in Bogra on February 26, East Zone will face Central Zone.
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