The Bangladesh and Dhaka captain hammered 51 off 83 balls on the second day of the four-day encounter as the hosts resuming on 2-1 in reply to Barisal's first innings total of 193, reached 302 for seven, a lead 109 runs.

Under pressure since the home sires against England the gutsy all-rounder was involved in a 93-run fifth-wicket stand with Halim Shah after Dhaka were reduced to 54-4 after some quality bowling from former national left-arm paceman Anisur Rahman, who added two more wickets to his tally.

Mahmud joined Halim in the rebuilding operation after discarded national opener Al-Shahriar was run out for 30.

Mahmud's statement of intent included one six and four boundaries. However, it was Halim who kept the ship afloat with an unbeaten 89.

The seasoned right-hander who was only 11 runs shy of becoming the National League's first centurion this year, also featured in a 106-run stand with Neeyamur Rashid. Neeyamur scored a solid 62 that contained eleven fours.

Halim struck 14 boundaries in his vigilant knock of 240 balls. Off-spinner Fahim Muntasir was batting on 34 with Halim at stumps.

SYLHET V KHULNA

Away at Sylhet, holders Khulna turned the tables on the home team defending a poor first innings total of 160 when they bundled out the opposition for only 80.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak led the demolition job with a seven-wicket haul

Starting from where he left off Razzak, dashed Sylhet's hopes of taking a first innings lead by claiming five more wickets on the day.

It was an astonishing spell from Razzak that read 16.1-9-11-7.

Resuming on 36 for two, Sylhet could add another 42 runs to their total before being dismissed.

Opener Imtiaz Ahmed top-scored for Sylhet with 30 while Golam Mabud (14) was the other batsman to reach double figures.

Khulna were 129 for eight at stumps in their second innings, which gave them a lead of 209 runs. One-down Raju Parvez scored highest 48 for the visitors.

CHITTAGONG V RAJSHAHI

In the other match at the Comilla Stadium, left-arm spinner Saifullah Khan took four wickets to help Rajshahi maintain the advantage over hosts Chittagong.

Chittagong were on 191-7 in response to Rajshahi's 234.

Saifullah, an experienced campaigner in domestic cricket, captured 4-54 in his marathon 32 overs on a wicket suited more for the spinners.

On the opening day debutant off-spinner Yasin Arafat claimed five wickets for Chittagong. He also took the last two wickets to finish with 7-62. Earlier, Rajshahi, resuming the day on 230 for eight, could add another four runs before being all out.

Opener Anisul Hakim top-scored with 53 followed by a patient 38 from Chittagong captain Akram Khan.