Sadikur joins Joy as Ctg build on strong NCL start

Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Sadikur Rahman struck centuries to give Chattogram a commanding start against Rajshahi on the third day of the opening round of the National Cricket League in Chattogram on Monday.

Chattogram resumed on 190 without loss after Rajshahi had posted 364 in their first innings. Joy, unbeaten on 102 overnight, added only three more runs before falling for 105. The right-handed opener was dismissed by left-arm pacer Shafiqul Islam after making 105 from 177 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.

Sadikur, however, soon reached the landmark he had missed by 14 runs at the close of play on Sunday. He completed his century from 137 balls, becoming the second centurion of this season's NCL.

The opener continued for a short while after reaching three figures before Sunzamul Islam ended his innings on 115. Sadikur faced 158 balls and struck 12 fours.

Chattogram then suffered another setback when Shahadat Hossain Dipu was dismissed without scoring from the next delivery, leaving the hosts three wickets down after a highly productive opening partnership.
At the latest update, Chattogram had reached 245 for three in 66.5 overs, still 119 runs behind Rajshahi's first-innings total.

Joy's century on Sunday was the first of the tournament and his seventh in first-class cricket. It also ended a prolonged run without a red-ball hundred for the Bangladesh top-order batter, who was left out of the national Test squad for the upcoming Afghanistan assignment.

Sadikur's century was his fourth in first-class cricket and his first of the current NCL campaign.

The two openers had put Chattogram in an excellent position with a 190-run stand before Rajshahi fought back with three quick wickets on Monday. Chattogram will now look to erase the remaining deficit and secure a first-innings lead as the match progresses.