Bowlers come to the fore in NCL third round
Bowlers dominated the third round of the NCL across four venues as Rangpur, Chattogram, and Rajshahi bowlers made early inroads.
After two rounds dominated by batters, bowlers made their mark in the third round of the National Cricket League 2026-27, which began across four venues on Sunday, although Mymensingh Division’s Mahfizul Islam Robin continued his impressive form with another century.
In Chattogram, pacer Mehedi Hasan and leg-spinner Shadhin Islam claimed three wickets apiece, while left-arm spinner Abu Hasim took two as Rangpur Division bowled Sylhet Division out for 179 in their first innings after the latter opted to bat.
Sylhet skipper Zakir Hasan top-scored with 71 off 135 balls before retiring hurt, while Jaker Ali Anik and Khaled Ahmed scored 17 and 26 respectively. Rangpur reached 32 for one at stumps, trailing by 147 runs.
In Sylhet, league leaders Chattogram Division reached 72 for three at stumps after bowling Khulna Division out for 201 in their first innings, where Imranuzzaman scored an unbeaten 64 off 143 balls and Azizul Hakim Tamim added 42.
Pacer Ahmed Sharif led Chattogram’s attack with three wickets for 40 runs, while spinners Md Rubel and Hasan Murad claimed two apiece before Chattogram lost three early wickets in reply.
In Rajshahi, left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam claimed four wickets for just 15 runs as Rajshahi bowled Barishal Division out for 229, with left-arm pacer Shafiqul Islam taking three and off-spinner S M Meherob Hasan taking two.
Meanwhile, in Cox’s Bazar, Robin continued his fine form with an unbeaten 116 off 237 balls, his second century of the season, helping Mymensingh Division finish the opening day on 226 for four against Dhaka Division.
After Mymensingh slipped to 146 for four, Robin and Rizan Hossain, unbeaten on 43, added 80 runs for the fifth wicket without being separated, while Dhaka leg-spinner Aminul Islam Biplob claimed two wickets.