Barisal nearly there

Barisal started celebrating clinching the title of the 10th National Cricket League one-day competition when they managed a three-run victory in the penultimate round against Chittagong at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The match ended in a chaos, which forced the issue to be settled through D/L method. With Barisal required to score three runs from last two balls, Abul Bashar hit Rezaul Karim towards third man but few spectators entered the ground, which then left no choice for the umpires to decide on D/L method as the scores were level on 260.
With the outcome, Barisal, who are also in advantageous position in head-to-head against their nearest rivals Rajshahi, raised their tally to 14 points and take on Dhaka in the last round on January 19 while Rajshahi, who defeated Sylhet by three wickets, followed them two points behind and meet Khulna in the last match.
Barisal began to celebrate in anticipation that even if they lost the final match and Rajshahi won against Khulna, they still would be champions by virtue of the head-to-head advantage. However, the question remained what if the run-rate came into deciding the winners. The Bangladesh Cricket Board officials concerned last night could not confirm on which basis the title would be decided.
In the day's other match, Khulna registered a five-wicket victory against bottom-side Dhaka.
BARISAL-CHITTAGONG
Rony Talukdar and Imran Ahmed got off a good start in reply to Chittagong's challenging total of 260 as the pair added 45 runs in the opening stand and then Nasir Hossain and Raisul Islam struck half centuries to steady the ship.
But it was Abul Bashar's unbeaten cameo knock of a 37-ball 39 that ensured Barisal's seventh success in nine matches. Bashar earlier also took two wickets for 31 runs in 6 overs to be adjudged man of the match.
Barisal scored 260 for 8 in 49.4 overs before a few spectators entered into the ground to stop the match.
Chittagong rode on Arman Hossain's 53 and number eight Sajjadul Haq's quickfire 24-ball 31 to put up a fighting total of 260 for eight in stipulated 50 overs.
Arman made 53 off 88 deliveries that saw three fours and a six while another opener Ashraful Hossain added 41 off 59 balls.
RAJSHAHI-SYLHET
Spinner Nabil Samad bagged five wickets for 26 runs but his effort was not good enough as Rajshahi won the low-scoring match against Sylhet by three wickets at BKSP.
In reply to 123, Rajshahi lost wickets at regular interval but number four Hamidul Islam kept his cool in one end during his unbeaten 72-ball 46 that featured six boundaries as Rajshahi reached the target in 36.2 overs.
Hamidul got good support from his captain Anisur Rahman as 64 runs came in the fifth wicket stand. Anisur made 27 off 58 balls with the help of three boundaries.
Earlier Shafaq Al Jabir started the carnage in the Sylhet innings by picking up three wickets while his new ball partner Delwar Hossain also picked up three wickets as Sylhet were bundled out for 123 in 35.3 overs.
Number nine Monir Hossain was the top scorer with 41-ball 32 that contained four boundaries.
Sohrawordi Shuvo and Sanjamul Islam claimed two wickets each.
KHULNA-DHAKA
A 98-run unbeaten sixth wicket partnership between Mohammad Salim and Ziaur Rahman helped Khulna secure a five-wicket victory against Dhaka at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium yesterday.
It was however Ziaur Rahman who showed an all-round performance by making a run-a-ball 55 after claiming three wickets for 27 runs to ensure the comfortable win as Khulna made 203 for 5 in 44.5 overs in reply to 201-9 in 47 overs.
Opener Nazmus Sadat smashed 62 off 60 balls that contained seven boundaries.
Earlier Marshall Ayub hit 56 off 97 balls with the help of two boundaries and Arafat Sunny contributed unbeaten 30 off 28 balls as Dhaka reached to a respectable total after deciding to bat first.
Zia was most successful bowler with 3 for 27 runs.
BRIEF SCORES
CHITTAGONG: 260-8 in 50 overs (Ashraful 41, Arman 53, Rezaul 37, Sajjadul 31 not out, extras 17; Tariqul 2-66, Bashar 2-31)
BARISAL: 260-8 in 49.4 overs (Rony 25, Nasir 64, Raisul 64, Bashar 39 not out, extras 25; Tareq 3-54, Newaz 2-42, Rezaul 3-47).
RESULT: Barisal won by three runs.
SYLHET: 123 all out in 35.3 overs (Kamrul 18, Monir 32, extras 3; Shafaq 3-24, Delwar 3-31, Shuvo 2-26, Sanjamul 2-35).
RAJSHAHI: 124-7 in 36.2 overs (Mizanur 22, Hamidul 46 not out, Anisur 27, extras 14; Nabil 5-26).
RESULT: Rajshahi won by three wickets
DHAKA: 201-9 in 47 overs (Marshall 56, Arafat Sunny 30 not out, extras 21; Zia 3-27, Rabiul 2-51)
KHULNA: 203-5 in 44.5 overs (Sadat 62, Salim 49 not out, Zia 55 not out, extras 12; Shahadat 2-45, Elias 2-25).
RESULT: Khulna won by five wickets.