Dhaka, Khulna secure big wins

Two fixtures of the National Cricket League (NCL) produced results inside three days as Dhaka Division posted a five-wicket victory against Dhaka Metro while Khulna secured a massive ten-wicket win against Barisal courtesy of debutant pace bowler Ashiquzzaman's six-wicket haul.

A first outright win sees Khulna to the top of the tier-one table with 36 points, while Dhaka Division followed close behind on 27 points.

Facing a huge deficit, Barisal resumed the day at the BKSP on 10 for no loss but could only set a 12-run target for Khulna as Ashiquzzaman tore through their innings with six wickets for 57 runs.

Ziaur Rahman and Bishwanath Halder chipped in with two wickets as Barisal were bundled out for 211 in their second innings. Monir Hossain was Barisal's top-scorer with 70.

Khulna, who took a handsome first innings lead by making 371 in reply to Barisal's 171, reached the target with all their wickets intact.

At the Fatullah Cricket Stadium, resuming the third day on 27 for four, Dhaka Metro lost their remaining six wickets for only 98 runs to set a 105-run target for Dhaka Division. Mohammad Sharif, along with Shahadat Hossain and Taibur Rahman, helped Dhaka Division bundle out Dhaka Metro for 125 runs.

Opener Joyraz Sheikh's 30 and Taibur's unbeaten 27 helped Dhaka Division reach the target in 31.5 overs for the loss of five wickets.

In the tier-second contest at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Chittagong continue to fight tooth and nail to avoid an innings defeat against Rangpur. In reply to Rangpur's 450, Chittagong scored 149 runs for four wickets at stumps after being dismissed for 182 in their first innings. Chittagong will resume on the final day, trailing by 119 runs.

Meanwhile, at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, Sylhet face a daunting task against Rajshahi, who rode on Farhad Hossain's 132 to set a 330-run target. Farhad smote nine fours and four sixes during his five-hour stay in the middle as Rajshahi amassed 344 runs in their second innings.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

DHAKA METRO V DHAKA DIV 

DHAKA METRO:  166 and 125 all out in 55.5 overs (Shadman 28, Mehrab Jr 39; Sharif 3-24, Shahadat 2-22, Taibur 2-13)

DHAKA DIV: 187 and 106 for 5 in 31.5 overs (Sheik 30, Taibur 27 not out; Hider 4-42)

Result: Dhaka Division won by five wickets 

Player-of-the-match: Mohammad Sharif (Dhaka Division) 

BARISAL V KHULNA 

BARISAL: 171 and 211 all out in 46.3 overs (Al Amin 37, Monir 70, Tawhidul 30; Ziaur 2-27, Ashiquzzaman 6-57, Halder 2-47)

KHULNA:  371 and 15-0 in 1.4 overs (Mahedi 11 not out)

Result: Khulna won by ten wickets. 

Player-of-the-match: Ashiquzzaman (Khulna)

RAJSHAHI V SYLHET 

RAJSHAHI: 204 and 344 all out in 92.5 overs (Junaed 78, Farhad 132, Sunzamul 30; Jayed 3-77, Khaled 2-52, Rahatul 2-52)

SYLHET: 219 and 28-1 in 11 overs (Imtiaz 18 not out)

RANGPUR V CHITTAGONG 

RANGPUR: 450 

CHITTAGONG: 182 all out in 58 overs (Irfan 47; Hasan 2-13, Shuvo 3-48, Saddam 3-36) and 149-4 in 56 overs (Pinak 45, Yasir 39 not out; Ariful 2-16)