Rajshahi on the brink of title

All-rounder Sohrawardi Shuvo consolidated Rajshahi's position with both ball and bat at the end of fourth day's play of the five-day final of 11th National Cricket league at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Shuvo took four wickets for 73 runs in Chittagong's first innings to restrict them for 301 that got Rajshahi a first innings lead of 71 runs. Then Shuvo scored 68 runs as Rajshahi reached 177 for 2 at the end of fourth day to have a lead of 248 with a day's play remaining. The defending champions Rajshahi will feel they already have a hand on the trophy since anything but a defeat would see them edge the port city side to the title having taken a lead in the first innings.
Chittagong resumed the day on 266 for six with Mominul Haque batting on 72 and Elias Sunny on 29. Mominul and Sunny added 24 more runs before Mominul was trapped in front of the wicket by Farhad Hossain for 82. That dismissal brought a mini collapse in the batting line-up as Chittagong lost their last four wickets for 11 runs. Saqlain Sajib took two wickets in the morning while Shuvo took one.
With a 71-run lead, Rajshahi made a good start to their second innings reaching 45 runs in 10 overs before Sabbir Rahman became a victim of Kazi Kamrul for 20. Zahurul Islam joined the other opener Shuvo and the two of them notched up a century partnership before Shuvo feel to Fasial Hossain's left-arm spin. But before that he played a patient knock of 68 runs off 158 deliveries that featured nine boundaries. Zahurul though remained unbeaten on 67 with Farhad Hossain on 13 as Rajshahi reached 177 before stumps were drawn for the fourth day.
SCORES IN BRIEF
RAJSHAHI: First innings 372 all out (Zahurul 59, Shuvo 32, Sabbir 41, Masud 55, Anisur 52, Dhiman 66 not out; Kamrul 2-84, Babu 1-71, Mamun 3-44, Sunny 2-73).
CHITTAGONG: First innings 301 all out (Nazimuddin 80, Mominul 82, Sunny 46; Shuvo 4-73, Sajib 3-62).
RAJSHAHI: Second innings 177 for two (Shuvo 68, Sabbir 20, Zahurul 67 not out, Farhad 13 not out; Kamrul 1-48, Faisal 1-47)