Sylhet skipper Parvez Ahmed thwarted leaders Dhaka's attempt for a quick kill with an unbeaten half-century at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium on the penultimate day of the four-day match.

At the Comilla Stadium, former national captain Minhazul Abedin led a Chittagong recovery after his Barisal counterpart Anisur Rahman ripped through the top-order with a fiery spell of pace bowling.

It was another captain in the thick of things at the Jessore Stadium when Nuruzzaman scored a half-century to give Rajshahi an edge over defending champions Khulna.

DHAKA V SYLHET

Parvez salvaged his side from a horrible 12-3 with an unbeaten 63 after hosts Dhaka took a first-innings lead of 79. The gritty right-hander shared 81 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket with Golam Mowla as Sylhet finished the third day on 145-5, a lead of 66 runs.

Dhaka's young right-arm paceman Ashraful Khan did the early damage to finish with three for 26 runs in 15 overs.

Earlier, Dhaka, resuming the day on 245-6, raced to 326 thanks to a polished 55 by Neeyamur Rashid

Neeyamur dominated the morning session after centurion Sanwar Hossain returned to the pavilion adding 13 runs to his overnight score of 104.

Left-arm seamer Rezaul Haq was the most successful Sylhet bowler with 6-60 in 26 overs.

CHITTAGONG V BARISAL

Veteran left-arm paceman Anisur Rahman captured four wickets as Chittagong crashed to 136 in their second innings, setting the stage for a close finish at Comilla.

The spectacular collapse now left Chittagong, who scored a commanding 300 in their first essay, with a vulnerable lead of 198 runs.

Barisal were 21-1 at stumps, needing 177 runs to win on the final day.

Although the port city outfit fell like a pack of cards after Barisal added 47 runs to their overnight first-innings score of 186-7, Minhazul Abedin stood among the ruins with a crafty 59.

The former national captain struck four boundaries in his 105-balls while batting at number seven.

Anis, a former national cap, finished with 4-26 while the spinning duo of Ali Arman and Mustadir Litu evenly shared four wickets.

KHULNA V RAJSHAHI

Spinner Saifullah Khan grabbed three wickets as hosts Rajshahi took a commanding position against Khulna on the third day.

The southpaw broke through the top-order as Khulna were reduced to 97-5, a lead of 20 runs with opener Shafiul Alam battling on 50

Earlier, Rajshahi secured a 77-run first-innings lead with both Nurazzaman and Hasanuzzaman scoring half-centuries. Nuru-zzaman scored 68 and Hasanu-zzaman hammered an unbeaten 62 in Rajshahi's 297.

Saifullah captured three for 55 runs in 17 overs.