First win for Sylhet

A 14-run vic-tory over Bari-sal, thanks to Golam Ma-bud's century, gave Sylhet their first points after four rounds of the 9th National Cricket League at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Mabud, coming in at number 5, anchored the innings as Sylhet made 225-9 in their quota of 50 overs. Barisal made a game of the target, but were restricted at 211-8.
In Khulna, visitors Rajshahi maintained their hundred per cent record with a five-wicket win over the home side. Batting first, Khulna were pegged back to be bowled out for only 187 runs in 47.5 overs. In reply, Rajshahi reached their target in 45 overs with Nayeem Islam scoring 66.
BARISAL-SYLHET
After their absorbing four-day game in which Barisal won by two wickets, Sylhet were off to a rough start in the shorter version match.
Barisal's impressive left-arm seamer justified his captain's decision to bowl first by picking up early wickets, removing Imtiaz Hossain and Mohammad Mithun. Medium-pacer Arafat Salahuddin took the big wickets of Rajin Saleh and Alok Kapali, who fell for a duck as Sylhet slipped to 42-4.
All-rounder Sharifullah joined Mabud at the crease then, and they added 75 for the fifth wicket. Sharif contributed 38, made off 58 balls and laced with four boundaries.
Ejaz Ahmed, Sylhet's foremost six-hitter, knocked 30 off 27 balls. He struck a six and two fours, adding verve to the Sylhet total as Mabud chipped away at the other end. Ejaz and Mabud added 64 for the sixth wicket and Mabud reached his ton in the final over of the match. He fell to paceman Sumon Saha, who finished with good figures of 3-38, in the same over to give Sylhet a defendable total.
Subhasish Roy copied Sajid's impressive start with the ball, picking up two top-order wickets before Barisal had their feet moving.
Imran Ahmed struck 40 off 72 balls but when he fell, it was all up to Rokibul Hasan and Arafat Salahuddin.
These two added 74 for the sixth wicket with Arafat hitting a quickfire 41. At the other end, Rokibul kept going but his 87 wasn't enough as Sylhet bowlers, particularly Enamul Haque bowled with venom. Enamul took four for 50, including the key wickets of Imran and Raisul in the middle overs.
KHULNA-RAJSHAHI
The visitors made sure they did not leave Khulna's Shaheed Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium empty-handed, as they dominated the one-dayer from the onset.
Sent to bowl first, the likes of Farhad Hossain, Mahbub Alam, Suharwardi Shuvo and Nayeem Islam chipped in with two wickets each while Forhad Reza took one.
Khulna's top and middle-order batsmen had starts but only Shakib Al Hasan reached 52 off 67 balls.
Syed Rasel's three-wicket burst put the visitors on the back foot but with Nayeem stroking the ball around for his 88-ball 66, Rajshahi were easy winners. He was later adjudged the best player of the match.
BRIEF SCORES
SYLHET: 225-9 in 50 overs (Imtiaz 12, Mithun 0, Rajin 17, Mabud 100, Kapali 0, Sharifullah 38, Ejaz 30, Tapash 3, Khadem 2, Enamul 0*; Sajidul 2-37, Saha 3-38, Arafat 2-23, Hannan 0-29, Ghosh 1-55, Bashar 0-34).
BARISAL: 211-8 in 50 overs (Imran 40, Hannan 11, Bashar 6, Rokibul 87*, Raisul 0, Iftekhar 10, Arafat 41, Sajidul 4, Saha 0, Shaheen 3*; Tapash 1-23, Shubhasish 2-35, Khadem 0-25, Enamul 4-50, Imtiaz 0-24, Kapali 1-43).
Result: Sylhet won by 14 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Golam Mabud.
KHULNA: 187 all out in 47.5 overs (Sadat 15, Imrul 27, Bashar 25, Shakib 52, Tushar 13, Jamal 3, Sahagir 2, Ziaur 2, Dollar 14, Rasel 8, Murad 1*; Shahjada 0-27, Delwar 0-22, Farhad 2-55, Mahbub 2-34, Shuvo 2-26, Nayeem 2-16, Forhad 1-4).
RAJSHAHI: 188-5 in 45 overs (Jahurul 13, Zunaed 27, Forhad 2, Nayeem 66, Farhad 43, Mushfiqur 16*, Mahbub 3*; Rasel 3-35, Dollar 0-47, Ziaur 0-25, Shakib 1-19, Murad 0-21, Jamal 1-37, Tushar 0-3).
Result: Rajshahi won by five wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Nayeem Islam.