Rajshahi pull off amazing chase

An amazing batting performance from Rajshahi on the fourth and final day of the National Cricket League fifth-round matches led them to an unexpected eight wicket win over hosts Chittagong at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

Chittagong had declared at 299 for three after their batsmen Tasamul Haque and Yasir Ali reached their respective centuries in the morning session. They had set a target of 385 when they declared at 10:30am today and were hoping to put the pressure on Rajshahi. However, Rajshahi's batsmen chased that target down in just 66 overs, going at almost six runs an over.

Openers Myshukur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman scored 81 and 80 respectively to lay a solid foundation. Junaid Siddique and Forhad Hossain then scored 104 off 97 and 113 off 77 balls respectively to lead them home. Forhad, who was the main aggressor, hit five sixes and nine fours on a flat wicket.

In the day's other games, Rangpur beat Sylhet by 10 wickets, while Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka and Dhaka Metro churned out draws. 

SCORES IN BRIEF 

Sylhet: 272 and 150 

Rangpur: 398 and 27 for no loss (Saymon 14 not out, Liton 12 not out) 

Result: Rangpur won by ten wickets. 

Dhaka: 366 and 278 for 8 dec 

Khulna: 342 and 92 for 3 (Hasanuzzaman 55; Nazmul 2-32) 

Result: Match drawn 

Dhaka Metro: 292 and 223 

Barisal: 280 and 171 for 6 (Al-Amin 69, Fazle 31; Hider 3-51) 

Result: Match drawn 

Chittagong: 315 and 299 for 3 dec (Yasir 105 not out, Tasamul 100 not out; Saqlain 2-102) 

Rajshahi: 230 and 387 for 2( Forhad 113 not out, Junaid 104 not out, Myshukur 81, Mizanur 80; Iftekhar 1-79)

Result: Rajshahi won by seven wickets.