Towhid, Shukkur show calm as Najmul XI beat Mahmudullah XI

A 105-run partnership for the sixth wicket from Towhid Hridoy and Irfan Shukkur, with both youngsters hitting fifty, saw Nazmul XI beat Mahmudullah XI by four wickets in the first match of the BCB President's Cup today as competitive cricket returned to Bangladesh after seven months. Shukkur remained unbeaten on an impressive 78-ball 56 with six fours.

Signs were ominous for Najmul XI when a fired up Ebadot Hossain picked up three top-order wickets including the prized scalp of the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim. The Najmul Islam-led side are a relatively young outfit with a long tail and after a promising start, all of a sudden the chase of 197 looked very difficult indeed as they lost five wickets for 79 runs.

Ebadat got the first breakthrough as his sharp delivery took the edge of opener Saif Hassan's bat and was taken at slip by Naim Sheikh. Soumya Sarkar and skipper Najmul played some blazing shots to take the score past fifty before the former slashed hard at Ebadat's delivery and was caught at deep third man. Mushfiqur then dragged back a fuller length delivery from Ebadat from outside the stump as Najmul XI began to feel the pressure.

Mahmudullah Riyad marshalled his troops commandingly on the field and soon he made youngster Afif Hossain into a false shot which he failed to keep down and Sabbir Rahman took it brilliantly at mid-on. Skipper Najmul then fell to Rakibul Hasan after a delivery turned sharply and castled him.

The tournament is a great opportunity for upcoming players to make a name for themselves. The first game back after some seven months without cricket due to coronavirus pandemic, proved difficult for the batsmen to cope with. The ability to keep calm in competitive cricket was certainly tested. From 79 for five, the Towhid Hridoy and Irfan Shukkur kept ticking the score with some level-headed batting. Once they got in, the duo took the pressure off with some brilliant shots with Towhid hitting a magnificent six straight down the ground off Mahmudullah.

Towhid fell for 52 with only 13 needed but Irfan's unbeaten 56 steered his side home with Nayeem Hasan finishing the game off with a big six. Ebadat was the key bowler for Mahmudullah XI with 3 for 45 in nine overs.

Earlier, Najmul XI bowlers dominated proceeding at Mirpur as Mahmudullah XI were restricted to 196 all-out. Pacers Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain and Mukidul Islam Mugdho found their mark, bagging two wickets each. After Naim Sheikh's early departure through a run out, Taskin removed Liton Das (13) while Mominul Haque fell for naught to Al Amin.

Skipper Mahmudullah, together with Imrul Kayes solidified the innings with the latter hitting 41. Spinner Nayeem bagged the wicket of Imrul before the lower middle order failed to click alongside Mahmudullah, who eventually fell after scoring a team-high 51. Sabbir Rahman hit a promising 22 off 25 before falling to a fantastic catch by Mugdho off his own bowling.

Rubel Hossain was the final wicket to fall as the Mahmudullah XI innings was wrapped up for 196 all-out.