Khulna ease past Sylhet, Chittagong complete elusive victory

Defending champions Khulna Division trounced Sylhet Division by eight wickets in Tier 1 of the National Cricket League's first round. They completed the win shortly after lunch on the fourth day by chasing down 68 runs in only 9.3 overs.

Sylhet had made 308 all out in their second innings after being asked to follow-on having scored 134 in the first innings. They were behind by 241 runs at the halfway stage after Khulna made 375 all out in 109.4 overs.

Imrul Kayes and Tushar Imran both got out in the nineties in Khulna's first innings. Imrul made 90 off 127 balls with ten fours and two sixes. He added 110 for the second wicket with Robiul Islam Robi. Imran's 99 came off 117 balls with 13 fours and he held the innings together as wickets fell around him. Abu Jayed and Ebadot Hossain, both considered to be part of Bangladesh's red-ball pace options, took three wickets each.

Sylhet were however poor with the bat, getting bowled out for 134 runs in 60.4 overs. Masum Khan and Minhazur Rahman took four wickets each while Moinul Islam took two wickets.

Sylhet's Zakir Hasan however changed their approach in the second innings, hitting his sixth first-class century. He made 140 with 15 fours as they slowly went past Khulna's score to avoid an innings defeat. He added 110 runs for the third wicket with Amit Hasan who scored 66 with nine fours and a six.

Pace bowler Abdul Halim, who went wicketless in the first innings, took four wickets this time for Khulna. Moinul took three wickets too.

Khulna then took only 9.3 overs to knock off the required runs in the fourth innings. Imran Uzzaman hammered four sixes and a four in his 26-ball unbeaten 33.

Chittagong Division won only their third first-class match in seven years, defeating Rajshahi Division by 88 runs in the NCL's Tier 2. This was also their first win over Rajshahi in more than eight years.

Left-arm quick Mehedi Hasan Rana was Chittagong's hero with a career-best seven-wicket haul that included 4 for 35 in the fourth innings in which Rajshahi were bowled out for 194, chasing 283. Ifran Hossain took three wickets while Hasan Murad picked up one wicket.

Earlier Chittagong reached 287 in the first innings, thanks mainly to Shahadat Hossain Dipu's maiden first-class hundred. He rescued Chittagong from 52 for 4, to add 88 runs for the fifth wicket with Yasir Ali, and 113 for the seventh wicket with Rana, who made 55.

Rajshahi were then bowled out for 152 with pacer Noman Chowdhury taking four wickets and Rana picking up three wickets.

Rajshahi fought back to bowl out Chittagong for 147 in the second innings but their own first-innings failings meant that they were chasing a stiff target in the fourth innings.

Dhaka Division fought off Rangpur Division for an 80-run win in their Tier 1 match at the BKSP in Savar.

Batting first, Dhaka reached 365 all out powered by Saif Hassan's 127, his fifth first-class century. Saif came to the crease with his side having lost both their openers for ducks in the third over.

He was involved in several important partnerships to help Dhaka recover, and added 137 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Nadif Chowdhury as they closed in on a 300-plus total. Saif struck eleven fours and five sixes in his 233-ball essay, which spanned five hours and 27 minutes. Nadif made 69 off 105 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Alauddin Babu took four wickets.

Rangpur made an even more dismal start to their innings as they slipped to 41 for 5 in reply. Nasir Hossain went on to make exactly half of Rangpur's 230, as he notched up his eighth first-class century. Nasir's 115 came off 252 balls with eleven fours and four sixes, and he was the last man out.

He followed it up with a four-wicket haul that skittled out Dhaka for 128 in their second innings, leaving Rangpur chasing 264, a considerably lower target than expected given the 135-run lead Dhaka had taken after the first innings.

But this time it was the left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam who took six wickets - to complete match figures of 10 for 153 - who became Dhaka's match-winner. Rangpur were bowled out for 183 with Naeem Islam top scoring with 61.

Dhaka Metropolis cruised to an eight-wicket win over Barisal Division. Shohidul Islam starred with both bat and ball, scoring his maiden first-class century batting at No. 8, and picking up three wickets in the match.

Batting first at their home venue, Barisal were bowled out for 241, to which Dhaka Metro replied with 413 in 129.2 overs. Captain Marshall Ayub struck his 21st first-class century, finishing on 112 with 13 fours. But it was the memorable 140-run eighth wicket stand between Shohidul and Abu Hider that took Barisal completely out of the game. Shohidul struck 14 fours in his 106 off 150 balls, while Hider made 39.

Barisal couldn't improve on their first-innings score, this time getting bowled out for 208. Hider took three wickets while Shohidul and Arafat Sunny took two each. Left with 37 runs to chase, Dhaka Metro lost Anisul Islam Emon and Shamsur Rahman but duly got home.