Razzak record gives Khulna third straight win

Khulna Division crushed Chittagong Division by 299 runs in Bogra to complete their third win in as many National Cricket League matches. Abdur Razzak's 9 for 84 in the first innings, which was also the best bowling figures in Bangladesh first-class cricket, put Khulna right on top before Anamul Haque's hundred ensured a massive second-innings target for Chittagong.

Their eventual final-innings total was only 153 with offspinner Nizamuddin picking up a five-wicket haul while Razzak added four to make it 13 for the match. With the bat it was four-half centuries from Imrul Kayes, Tushar Imran, Ziaur Rahman and Dolar Mahmud that took Khulna to 416 in the first innings, before Razzak almost single-handedly bowled out Chittagong for 307. The 109-run lead was boosted by another 343 as Anamul blasted 127 with ten boundaries and three sixes. Aftab Ahmed's 52 and captain Nafees Iqbal's 45 provided the only resistance for Chittagong in the second innings, as just four batsmen reached double-figures.

Four-time defending champions Rajshahi Division picked up their first win in the tournament when they beat hosts Rangpur Divisionby 224 runs in Rangpur. Batting first, Rajshahi made only 232 runs, despite Maisuqur Rahman's century, but they still managed to take a 61-run first-innings lead.

Left-arm spinner Sanjamul Islam picked up three wickets while Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza and Saqlain Sajib took two each. Farhad's unbeaten century then gave Rajshahi a lead of 358 runs, after they declared their second innings on 297 for 9. Left-arm seamer Sajidul Islam finished with eight wickets for Rangpur, who missed the services of Naeem Islam badly.

Rangpur were bowled out for just 134 runs in the second innings with Sajib taking four wickets and Shafiul finishing with three as Rajshahi picked up seven points from the game.

Sylhet Division also registered their first win by beating Dhaka Division by 10 wickets at home. After sending in Dhaka to bat first, Sylhet's three-man pace attack bowled out the visitors for 84, with the experienced Tapash Baisya taking 6 for 37.

Alok Kapali and Rajin Saleh then shared a 240-run stand for the fourth wicket, both scoring centuries as Sylhet piled on 390 runs in their first innings. Dhaka's fightback in the second innings only amounted to a lead of a single run. It took Imtiaz Hossain just one blow off Nazmul Islam's left-arm spin to complete the victory and a handy ten points.