Rajshahi promoted

Rajshahi have confirmed their promotion to Tier-1 with a comprehensive innings and 13 run win over Chittagong on the final day of their fifth round match of the 19th National Cricket League at Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra yesterday while they still have a game remaining.

Resuming the day on 109 for 3, Chittagong required another 34 runs to avoid the follow-on but a fiery spell from pacer Delwar Hossain helped bundle out the port city outfit on 130. Chittagong lost their last seven wickets for only 21 runs as Delwar picked up six for the cost of just two runs from his six overs which included four maidens.

Delwar, who bowled three overs on the previous day for the price of 21 runs, came out guns blazing once again to register his fifth five wicket haul in first-class cricket while Forhad Reza took two.

With 23 points from five matches, Rajshahi lead Tier-2 table while Sylhet are in second position with 12 points. The final round of this tournament is set to take place after the fifth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League ends this December.

In the other Tier-2 encounter, at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong, left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr bagged his second fifer against Dhaka Metro as Sylhet notched their first win of the competition by the huge margin of 190 runs.

After Sylhet posted a target of 324 runs, Dhaka Metro were all-out on 133 as Enamul scalped five wickets for 96 runs during the first innings and went on to pick another five for 63 in the second innings.

It was Enamul's 32nd five wicket haul in first-class cricket while it was also his sixth ten wicket haul. He is now second to only fellow veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak who has eight ten wicket hauls.

Shahanur Rahman also picked up four wickets and put up an all-round performance throughout the game.

Resuming the day on 176 for 8, Shahanur along with Abu Jayed added 102 runs for the ninth wicket, where both batsmen struck fifties, before Sylhet declared their second innings on 263-9.

At the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium, Rajshahi, Barisal managed to survive the fourth day against defending champions Khulna after, riding on a Fazle Rabbi century, following-on their second innings on 296 for 5.

Barisal resumed on 80 for 1 and Rabbi alongside opener Rafsan Al Mahmud added 177 runs for the second wicket before the latter was dismissed after scoring 85 runs off 212 balls with 12 fours and a six.

However, Rabbi went on to smash his sixth first-class hundred as he scored 107 runs off 237 balls, featuring 12 fours, while Shohag Gazi remained unbeaten on 68 to eventually draw the game.

Nevertheless, Khulna will have to wait for the final round in order to secure the title as they currently sit on top of the Tier-1 table with 16 points while Dhaka Division are close behind on 10 points.

Meanwhile in the Tier-1 at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna, Dhaka Division continued their defensive approach and managed a draw after Rangpur posted 560-8 in their first innings where Naeem Islam struck his maiden double hundred.

Dhaka, resuming on a first innings 295-6, were all-out after adding another 26 runs to their overnight total and were forced to follow-on. Abdur Rahman and Mahmudul Hasan then bagged four and three wickets respectively for Rangpur before Dhaka scored 85 for 1 in 49 overs of their second innings, at the run rate of 1.73, where Abdul Majid faced 154 balls for his unbeaten 52 runs.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

BARISAL VS KHULNA DIV

KHULNA: 511 for 8 declared in 140.4 overs (Ziaur 152, Robiul 114; Shohag 4-148) 

BARISAL: 296 and 296 for 5 in 110 overs ( Fazle 107, Rafsan 85; Anamul 1-14) 

Result: Match drawn.

SYLHET VS DHAKA METRO

SYLHET: 319 and 263 for 9 declared (Shahanur 58, Jayed 53; Nihad 4-96, Sunny 3-63) 

Dhaka Metro: 259 and 130 all-out (Saykat 31; Enamul 5-63, Shahanur 4-30) 

Result: Sylhet won by 190 runs.

RANGPUR VS DHAKA DIV

RANGPUR: 560 for 8 declared in 147.2 overs (Naeem 216, Suhrawardi 145, Ariful 100; Shuvagata 3-125) 

DHAKA: 321 and 85 for 1 in 49 overs ( Majid 52 not out, Minhaj 23 not out; Mahmudul 1-28) 

Result: Match drawn.

RAJSHAHI VS CHITTAGONG

CHITTAGONG: 260 and 130 all-out (Sadikur 48, Tasamul 32; Delwar 6-23, Forhad 2-44) 

RAJSHAHI: 403 all-out in 134.5 overs (Mizanur 102, Hamidul 73 not out, Delwar 62; Wahidul 2-27, Hasan 2-77) 

Result: Rajshahi won by an innings and 13 runs.