Rajshahi paceman Mohammad Shahjada (C) exchanges high-fives with captain Khaled Mashud after they combined to dismiss Chittagong skipper Ehsanul Haque for 66 during the first day's play of their National Cricket League match at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: TIGERCRICKET.COM

Rajshahi fast bowler Mohammad Shahjada shone on a rather slow opening day of the 9th National Cricket League eighth round at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium yesterday.
His four-wicket haul helped skittle Chittagong out for 198 in the first innings to which the hosts replied with 24-2.
In Khulna, right-handed batsman Golam Rahman played a lone hand to help visitors Sylhet reach 228-6 while Dhaka crawled to 215-6 at close of play against Barisal at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.
RAJSHAHI-CHITTAGONG
Coming in at first change after new ball bowlers Alamgir Kabir and Saiful Islam reduced Chittagong to 27-3, right-arm paceman Shahjada got rid of heavy-scoring Nazimuddin for 13.
Captain Ehsanul Haque and wicketkeeper-batsman Dhiman Ghosh resurrected Chittagong's innings, hitting half-centuries as they shared a 116-run fifth wicket stand. At that point, Dhiman had just reached 50 off 94 balls, but his joy was short-lived as Shahjada returned in his second spell to have him caught behind by Khaled Mashud. Dhiman struck nine boundaries in his two hours stay at the crease.
Shahjada removed Ehsanul, 66 off 83 balls, four overs later in the same manner and then clean bowled Faisal Hossain as Chittagong slipped back to trouble and were eventually bowled out for 198 runs. Beside Shahjada's efforts, Saiful bagged three wickets.
Chittagong's new ball reply was good too, as both Rajshahi openers were sent back to the pavilion but Farhad Hossain and Shakil Haider, of Challengers Cup fame, survived to stumps on 24 for two.
KHULNA-SYLHET
Sylhet opener Golam Rahman carried his bat through the day. In his six-hour stay at the crease, right-handed batsman Rahman struck seven boundaries to move to 78.
He found some support from brother Golam Mabud, who struck 53 off 119 balls with the help of nine fours. The brothers shared 83 runs for the fifth wicket.
Saif Mahmud was unbeaten on 5 with Rahman.
The hosts depleted bowling attack did quite well as Aslam Khan, Robiul Islam and Murad Khan all took two wickets each.
BARISAL-DHAKA
Dhaka, who lost a few of their big names to the Tigers tour to New Zealand like Khulna, struggled against Barisal's disciplined bowling attack on Day One.
Precariously placed at 69-4, Nadif Chowdhury and Mehrab Hossain took Dhaka out of some trouble with a 60-run fifth wicket partnership. Nadif smashed two sixes and four boundaries in his 33-ball 39 while Mehrab contributed 33 off 78 balls.
When Sajidul Islam took a return catch to dismiss Mehrab, Barisal were eyeing a bat on the first day. But Mosharraf Hossain and Mohammad Sharif took Dhaka out of another rut, scoring 35 and 30 respectively after Sajjad Kadir retired hurt on 9.
Left-armers Sajid and Tariqul Islam took two wickets each.
BRIEF SCORES
CHITTAGONG: First innings 198 all out in 76.4 overs (Salahuddin 0, Masum 10, Mahbubul 4, Nazimuddin 13, Dhiman 50, Ehsanul 66, Faisal 5, Kamrul 11, Yasin 7, Tareq 14*, Younus 11; Shahjada 4-36, Saiful 3-70, Mahbub 1-8, Farhad 1-16, Alamgir 1-56).
RAJSHAHI: First innings 24-2 in 9.2 overs (Jahurul 9, Robiul 8, Farhad 2*, Shakil 3*; Kamrul 1-9, Tareq 1-14).
SYLHET: First innings 228-6 in 90 overs (Imtiaz 15, Kuntal 19, Rajin 2, Alok 36, Golam Mabud 53, Ejaz 6, Rahman 78*, Saif 5*; Aslam 2-47, Robiul 2-51, Murad 2-54).
DHAKA: First innings 215-6 in 83 overs (Al Shahriar 16, Uttam 16, Anwar 8, Mehrab 33, Mahmudullah 12, Nadif 39, Sajjad 9, Mosharraf 35*, Sharif 30*; Sajidul 2-34, Tariqul 2-74, Talha 1-38, Arafat 1-41).