Central Zone meet South Zone in final again

Once again, Walton Central Zone and BCB South Zone will meet in the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League, but this time the format and the ball have changed.

Both teams met in the final of the longer version of BCL last week at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and tomorrow they will meet again at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in the final of the one-day version.

In the last group-stage match, Central Zone lost to South Zone by five wickets, but the defeat did not harm as Central Zone had already secured a spot in Saturday’s final with two wins.

In the other match, Islami Bank East Zone beat BCB North Zone by four wickets, but both teams are out of the title race as they both ended on two points after three matches.

Central Zone was sent in to bat first, and after a brittle start, they managed to post 220-8 in 50 overs. Abu Hider, chiefly a bowler, batted well and scored 54 runs to give his team a decent total.

Half-centuries from Pinak Ghosh (54) and Towhid Hridoy (65*) handed South Zone a win by five wickets with eight balls to spare.

In the other match, three wickets and 66 runs from Mahmudullah could not save North Zone as a knock of 71 runs from Imrul Kayes ensured victory for the East Zone.

The final will take place on January 15 at Sylhet.