Ctg, Khulna on top

Rajshahi's Jahurul Islam (L), fielding at the second slip, takes a sharp catch to dismiss Sylhet captain Rajin Saleh off the bowling of Alamgir Kabir on the third day of their four-day National League match at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium yesterday (left) and Chittagong left-arm seamer Kamrul in his delivery stride during the third day's play of the four-day National Cricket League match against Barisal at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium yesterday(right.Photo: STAR

Chittagong and Khulna dominated while Rajshahi conceded a good position yesterday on the third day of the 9th National Cricket League sixth-round matches across the country.
After declaring their first innings at 352-9, Chittagong bowled brilliantly to reduce Barisal to 117-7 at close of play.
Khulna kept their home advantage against Dhaka, bundling out the visitors for 204 early on, and piling up 288-5 in their second innings with Tushar Imran hitting 92.
At the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, Golam Mabud and Ejaz Ahmed hit half-centuries to keep Sylhet alive for today, the final day. Sylhet scored 293 in 111.5 overs and then took two late Rajshahi wickets, finishing the day as the happier of the two sides.

KHULNA-DHAKA
Tushar Imran warmed up for the New Zealand series with a brisk 92, inclusive of nine fours and three sixes.
Off successive deliveries from left-arm spinner Mosharraf Rubel, Tushar smashed sixes over mid-wicket, followed by one bowler's back drive off Mohammad Ashraful as Khulna made merry at the expense of the visitors.
Tushar's delightful knock was complemented by Shakib Al Hasan's unbeaten 82, made with the help of six boundaries.
With the score on 288-5, Khulna have a healthy 337-run lead but the hosts would bat today.
“We will wait about 30 minutes in the morning to give Shakib (Al Hasan) a chance to reach his hundred,” said Tushar.
Tushar missed what would have been his second century in as many matches, by just eight runs. A low one from off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyad, Dhaka's most successful bowler with 2-32, got through the defence of the Khulna batter.
Earlier, Khulna's stand-in captain and pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza snapped two wickets while Shakib added one as Dhaka conceded a first innings deficit.
Khulna collected six bonus points while Dhaka have five in their kitty.

CHITTAGONG-BARISAL
Nafis Iqbal reached 153 to take Chittagong past the 300-mark after the home side were 270-4 overnight.
The right-handed opener was the seventh batsman to fall when he was caught by Arafat Salahuddin off left-arm spinner Tariqul Islam. Nafis's knock was laced with 20 boundaries spanning almost seven hours.
For Barisal, Sajidul Islam continued to take wickets aplenty, finishing with 3-85.
Trailing by 59 runs, Barisal's second innings succumbed at the hands of fiery Kamrul Islam, the left-arm paceman picking up three for 26 in nine overs.
Rokibul Hasan held sway for a while, scoring 43 off 42 balls but he edged to Nazimuddin off Kamrul in the 15th over.
Raisul Islam, Humayun Kabir, Shaheen Hossain and Alamgir Kabir followed suit as Barisal have a lead of 58 runs going into the last day.
Chittagong mustered the maximum eight bonus points while Barisal have five to their credit.
SYLHET-RAJSHAHI
Resuming on 88-1, Sylhet were off on the wrong foot. Overnight batsman Imtiaz Hossain added only four to his 65.
After a flurry of wickets that put Rajshahi on top, Sylhet's man in form Golam Mabud and big-hitter Ejaz Ahmed began rebuilding from 121-5. The two right-handers shared 135 runs for the sixth wicket as Sylhet moved out of the danger zone of a follow on.
Mabud was unbeaten on 82 off 158 balls that contained 13 boundaries while Ejaz struck 65 off 117 balls with ten fours and his customary one six.
For Rajshahi, Saqlain Sajib toiled away, taking a five-for while Alamgir Kabir took four wickets.
Late in the day with a lead of 124 runs, Rajshahi moved to 24 for two when play ended.
Sylhet gathered six points while Rajshahi have full eight bonus points from the first innings.
BRIEF SCORES
KHULNA: 253 and 288-5 in 72 overs (Imrul 48, Sadat 6, Mustafizur 42, Shakib 82*, Tushar 92, Mashrafe 3, Nahidul 4*; Mahbubul 1-24, Ashraful 1-64, Mosharraf 1-97, Riyad 2-32).
DHAKA: First innings- 204 all out in 98 overs (Al Shahriar 1, Mehrab 26, Ashraful 9, Mahmudullah 51, Shamsur 19, Mosharraf 9, Nadif 27, Anwar 27*, Sharif 8, Shahadat 5, Mahbubul 0; Shakib 3-32, Mashrafe 4-44, Manjurul 1-30, Murad 1-48).
BARISAL: 293 and 117-7 in 53 overs (Hannan 0, Shahriar 9, Imran 0, Rokibul 43, Raisul 21, Humayun 26, Shaheen 0, Arafat 2*; Tareq 1-32, Kamrul 3-26, Dhiman 1-2, Ehsanul 1-11).
CHITTAGONG: First innings 352-9 dec in 113.1 overs (Salahuddin 17, Nazimuddin 57, Aftab 15, Ehsanul 42, Nafis 153, Faisal 13, Dhiman 1, Kamrul 16, Tareq 10*, Saju 2, Yasin 1*; Talha 2-67, Sajid 3-85, Raisul 1-19, Arafat 1-56, Tariqul 2-95).
RAJSHAHI: 417 and 24-2 in 13 overs (Saqlain 8, Zunaed 12, Farhad 1*, Naeem 2*; Enamul 1-0, Kapali 1-4).
SYLHET: First innings 293 all out in 111.5 overs (Kuntal 1, Imtiaz 69, Sadiqur 18, Rajin 13, Kapali 2, Mabud 82*, Ejaz 65, Nazmul 8, Rashid 2; Alamgir 4-57, Saqlain 5-55).