Barishal, Khulna fight back
Tier-1 leaders Rajshahi Division suffered a minor blow to their bid to become National Cricket League champions after being bowled out for 160 by Barishal Division on the second day of the sixth and final round yesterday.
Having bowled out Barishal for 97 on the first day, the five-time champions had a chance to pile on the runs and shut the door on second-placed Rangpur Division, who are still in contention after having dismissed defending champions Khulna Division for 261.
At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium, hosts Rajshahi started the day on 124 for six and Junaid Siddique had added just six runs to his overnight score when he was stumped by Shamsul Islam off the bowling of Shohag Gazi. Left-arm spinner Monir Hossain then bagged a five-for by trapping the last three batsmen leg-before as Khulna lost their last four wickets for 13 runs.
Barishal then corrected course with their batting and, riding on a 97 from Al-Amin, ended the day on 246 for six with a lead of 183.
Meanwhile at Bogura's Shaheed Chandu Stadium, Khulna -- under threat of relegation -- rallied in the morning to add 42 runs to their overnight score of 217 for eight with tail-ender Abdul Halim scoring 21. Moinul Islam was out for 54 after resuming the day on 48. Pacers Robiul Haque, Sajedul Islam and leg-spinner Tanbir Hayder took three wickets apiece.
It was a relatively more bat-dominated in the Tier-2 game at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox's Bazar where Dhaka Metro scored 328 and Chattogram Division ended the day on 196 for three with opener Sadikur Rahman set to resume today on an unbeaten 100, his second first-class century.
Neither Metro nor their overnight batsman Marshall Ayub could add to the score before he was trapped in front by pacer Hasan Mahmud to depart for 110 and leave the team on 265 for six. Sharifullah hit 40 and took the team total to 328 when he was last man out, bowled by off-spinner Nayeem Hasan. The 17-year-old finished with four for 98.
In the adjoining venue, Tier-2 leaders and promotion hopefuls Dhaka were in a dominant position as they finished the day on 236 for four, just two runs behind Sylhet's first-innings total of 238 all out. In the morning Sylhet lost their last four wickets for the addition of just 18 runs with former Bangladesh pacer Shahadat Hossain finishing with three for 64.
Dhaka opener Abdul Mazid hit 104, his ninth first-class ton, before retiring hurt.
HIGHLIGHTS
Barishal left-arm spinner Monir Hossain bagged his 11th five-wicket haul to help bundle out Rajshahi for 160, limiting the TIer-1 leaders' first-innings lead to 63 runs.
Chattogram's left-handed opener Sadikur Rahman hit his second first-class ton in his ninth game. He ended the second day unbeaten on 100 against Dhaka Metropolis.
Dhaka opener Abdul Mazid's ninth first-class century helped the Tier-2 leaders get within touching distance of taking the first-innings lead against Sylhet.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BARISHAL V RAJSHAHI
BARISHAL: First innings 97 and second innings 246 for 6 (Al-Amin 97, Nuruzzaman 45, Nafees 33; Mohor 3-64)
RAJSHAHI: First innings 160 (Junaid 78, Farhad 32 not out; Monir 5-14, Sohag 2-29)
KHULNA V RANGPUR
KHULNA: First innings 261 (Moinul 54, Ziaur 40, Nurul 36; Tanbir 3-14, Sajedul 3-58)
RANGPUR: First innings 126 for 4 (Maruf 42, Shuvo 35 not out; Ziaur 1-17, Abdul 1-20)
DHAKA METRO V CHATTOGRAM
DHAKA METRO: First innings 328 (Ayub 110, Sharifullah 40; Nayeem 4-98, Shakhawat 3-105)
CHATTOGRAM: First innings 196 for 3 (Sadikur 100 not out, Pinak 76; Onik 2-35, Hider 1-47)
SYLHET V DHAKA DIVISION
SYLHET: First innings 238 (Rajin 67, Jaker 55 not out; Shahadat 3-64, Saif 2-13)
DHAKA DIVISION: First innings 236 for 4 (Mazid 104, Raqibul 40, Shuvagata 30; Enamul 2-53)
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