Rajshahi racked up a fifth win in the first phase of the National Cricket League when they beat Barisal by 175 runs at the Shamsul Huda Stadium in Jessore yesterday.
Dhiman Ghosh and Alauddin Babu smashed big centuries in Rangpur's dominating second innings while Khulna controlled their game over Dhaka Metropolis.
Sylhet also have an eye on victory as they require less than a hundred runs for victory over Dhaka.
RAJSHAHI-BARISAL
Rajshahi finished off Barisal inside three days, despite an excellent all-round show from Sohag Gazi.
The defending champions rode on half-centuries from Junaed Siddiqui and Mizanur Rahman to set Barisal, who trailed by six runs in the first dig, a target of 320 runs. Farhad Hossain's accurate off-spin yielded four wickets while Saqlain Sajib took three as Barisal were bowled out for 144 runs in just 31.4 overs.
Sohag struck a couple of half-centuries and picked up nine wickets in the game.
RANGPUR-CHITTAGONG
After the first day chaos in Bogra when 20 wickets fell, Rangpur responded in the most unbelievable manner.
Alauddin and Dhiman struck 180 and 183 respectively during their mammoth 322-run fifth wicket stand. The all-rounder Alauddin was the aggressor of the pair, hammering 22 boundaries and a six during his 207-ball innings. Dhiman struck 26 fours and a six in his 245-ball stay.
Later, Tanvir Haider and Ariful Haque threw their bat around as they took the score past the 550-mark.
Chittagong responded to the second innings chase with 189-3 at stumps at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium.
KHULNA-DHAKA METRO
Dhaka Metro will miss the services of Mohammad Ashraful in the second innings as their captain was called up to the national team for the Test matches against Pakistan.
It would mean that they would require a further 200 runs with four wickets in hand after they ended the third day on 143-5 at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi.
Earlier, Khulna's all-rounder Soumya Sarkar struck 80 in the side's 250 all out after Dhaka Metro declared their first innings on 164-8.
Alamin Hossain took two second innings wickets after he took a five-wicket haul for Khulna in the first innings.
DHAKA-SYLHET
After Sylhet took a 110-run lead in the first innings at their home ground, Dhaka were bowled out for 231 runs with left-arm spinner Enamul Haque picking up three wickets.
Opener Abdul Majid made 92 off 192 balls with the help of a dozen boundaries and a six.
With 122 runs to win, Sylhet responded with 34-1 with Imtiaz Ahmed unbeaten on 23 runs. They made 285 in the first innings with Enamul top scoring with 54 runs.
BRIEF SCORES RAJSHAHI: First innings 222 and second innings 313 all out in 98.5 overs (Junaed 67, Mizanur 64; Sohag 4-113). BARISAL: First innings 216 all out in 53.5 overs (Sohag 69; Delwar 3-38, Mukhtar 3-57, Saqlain 3-65) and second innings 144 all out in 31.4 overs (Sohag 63; Farhad 4-8).
Result: Rajshahi won by 175 runs.
RANGPUR: First innings 122 and second innings 587 all out in 135.1 overs (Dhiman 183, Alauddin 180; Rezaul 3-18).
CHITTAGONG: First innings 118 and second innings 189-3 in 44 overs (Nafees 78 not out; Mahmudul 1-22).
KHULNA: First innings 256 and second innings 250 all out in 87.5 overs (Soumya 80; Shamsur 4-54). DHAKA METRO: First innings 164-8 dec in 49.2 overs (Ashraful 58, Mehrab 53 not out; Alamin 5-33) and second innings 143-5 in 38 overs (Shamsur 43 not out; Alamin 2-29).
DHAKA: First innings 175 and second innings 231 all out in 71.3 overs (Majid 92; Enamul 3-76). SYLHET: First innings 285 all out in 117.1 overs (Enamul 54; Sharif 3-65) and second innings 34-1 in 11 overs (Imtiaz 23 not out; Rubel 1-12).