Barisal crush Rajshahi and consolidate top spot

Barisal Division took pole position in Tier-2 of the National Cricket League after a crushing eight-wicket win over Rajshahi Division. The win took Barisal to 53 points, 16 clear of second-placed Rajshahi.

Barisal's decision to bowl first paid off as they reduced Rajshahi to 36 for 7 by the second hour on the first day. The home side were eventually bowled out for 119 runs, with medium-pacers Tawhidul Islam and Salman Hossain taking five wickets apiece.

Shahriar Nafees (80) and Fazle Mahmud (51), the Barisal captain, lead Barisal's reply with a 99-run second-wicket stand. The innings was then driven ahead by Al-Amin, who struck a breezy 71, as Barisal took a 192-run first-innings lead. Shafaq Al Zabir and Sunzamul Islam took four wickets each.

Rajshahi began their second innings well with openers Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Junaid Siddique adding 59 runs, but lost their way thereafter. That they avoided an innings defeat was courtesy Farhad Reza's 66, which set Barisal a target of 67. Nafees and Salman had little trouble in steering the side to victory halfway into the third day.