|| CF Correspondent || 

BCB South Zone poised for the 5th title of the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) taking a comfortable 338 runs lead over Islami Bank East Zone on the 3rd day of the five-day final at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city here on Monday.

Replying to BCB South Zone mammoth first innings total 486 runs, Islami Bank East Zone resumed the first innings with overnight total 110 for 3 and were forced to close the innings at 273 runs for all in 86, 3 overs against devastating bowling by former national spinner Abdur Razzak, who grabbed seven wickets for 102 runs.

Number five batsman Afif Hossain, who was on batting with zero, contributed 47 runs off 98 balls, hitting seven boundaries, another overnight batsman Mahmudul Hasan, who was in batting with 21 runs, scored 91-ball 33 runs with four boundaries.

Tanzid Hasan, a member of U-19 World Cup champions Bangladesh team, came to bat at number six and hammered 87-ball 82 runs featuring seven fours and two sixes while Zakir Hasan made 29-ball 10 runs with one boundary, apart from Farhad Reza’s unbeaten 103 runs and Shamsur Rahman’s 79 runs.

Veteran national colored spinner Abdur Razzak again displayed his brilliance in the late hours claiming seven wickets for 102 runs with four maidens in 32.2 overs.

Pacer Shahfiul Islam took two wickets for 72 runs.

In reply, BCB South Zone opened the 2nd innings Monday afternoon and scored 125 for 8 in 30.1 overs to lead the match by 338 runs making the task difficult for the Islami Bank East Zone.

Lower order batsman Mahedi Hasan scored the innings highest 41 runs off 68 deliveries with four hits to the fence and one over the fence.

Besides, Mahmudul Hasan (17), Mahmudullah (16) and Anamul Haque Bijoy (10) were the other notable batsmen for South Zone reaching the double figure.