Nayeem rescues Rajshahi

Rajshahi batsman Nayeem Islam plays a back-foot drive during his unbeaten knock of 82 in their 10th round National Cricket League match against Dhaka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.Photo: STAR

Naeem Islam salvaged title contender Rajshahi's sinking ship against Dhaka on the first day of their all-important tenth and last round National Cricket League match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Recovering from 79-6, the second-placed Rajshahi made a remarkable turnaround to finish the day on 264 for seven.
While Rajshahi at least managed some batting points on the first day, their rivals Khulna, who have a point's advantage, succumbed to Barisal paceman Talha Jubair.
Talha claimed a five-for to rattle Khulna and helped bowl them out for 193 but the home side's only consolation in the end was the three Barisal wickets they snared for just 62.
At the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, Imtiaz Hossain slammed a hundred as Sylhet piled up 348- 8 against Chittagong.
RAJSHAHI-DHAKA
New-ball bowlers Mahbubul Alam and Mohammad Sharif found the Rajshahi batsmen wanting after the visitors decided to bat first. But number eight Nayeem joined his skipper Khaled Mashud to steady the ship and then Shahjada made a brilliant contribution to consolidate their position.
Naeem and Mashud repaired the early damage, by associating themselves in a 70-run seventh wicket stand before left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique bowled veteran Mashud for 52 off 142 balls. The innings contained five boundaries.
And it was number nine Shahjada who frustrated the home bowlers most when he added 115 for the eighth wicket with Nayeem, who was at the crease on 82 off 188 balls with the help of eleven boundaries.
Shahjada remained not out on 57 in 102 balls.
Sharif was Dhaka's most successful bowler with 4-53 while Mahbubul took two four 55 runs.
KHULNA-BARISAL
Without their star players, Khulna continued their struggle with the bat when lanky paceman Talha ripped through their top-order to wrap up the home team below 200.
Captain Nahidul Haque top-scored with 58 off 79 deliveries that contained ten fours and a six.
Paceman Aslam Khan however brought Khulna back into contention as the new ball bowler picked up two wickets to see Barisal finish the day on 62-3.
Nasiruddin Faruque was batting on 35 while Tariqul Islam didn't open his account having faced 12 balls.
SYLHET-CHITTAGONG
Imtiaz's array of strokes enabled Sylhet to finish the first day on a high as the right-handed opener clobbered seventeen fours to make a quickfire 130 off 144 deliveries.
Put into bat, Sylhet made a bright start thanks to a 99-run opening partnership between Imtiaz and Golam Rahman, who made 36 off 65 balls with the help of eight boundaries.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Younus captured four for 81.
BRIEF SCORES
RAJSHAHI: First innings 264 for seven in 90 overs (Jahurul 23, Shakil 4, Farhad 1, Rafiqul 9, Mashud 52, Anisur 20, Mushfiqur 0, Naeem 82*, Shahjada 57*; Sharif 4-53, Mahbubul 2-55).
KHULNA: First innings 193 all out in 71 overs (Nazmus 6, Imrul 21, Mostafizur 1, Jamal Babu 0, Nahidul 58, Sahagir 11, Ziaur 38, Farid 38, Murad 10 not out, Robiul 0, Aslam 1; Talha 5-48, Abul Bashar 2-27, Arafat 1-35, Monir 1-36
BARISAL: First innings 62 for three in 17 overs (Hannan 6, Imran 7, Roquibul 9, Nasiruddin 35 not out, Tariqul 0 not out; Aslam 2-27, Jamal Babu 1-0).
SYLHET: First innings 348 for 8 in 90 overs (Rahman 36, Imtiaz 130, Saif 9, Alok 30, Golam Mabud 37, Sharifullah 10, Ejaz 37, Rezaul 6, Sadiqur 28*, Nabil 0*; Younus 4-81, Yasin 1-44, Ehsanul 1-49, Kamrul 1-51).