Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Jon-Russ Luke Jaggesar gave Sylhet Strikers a glimmer of hope with early wickets in defence of a small total but, in the end, Akbar Ali and Ryan Burl's knocks ensured that Durbar Rajshahi picked up their sixth victory with a five-wicket win at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.

The win ensured that Rajshahi climbed to third on the table with 12 points.

Sakib got the scalp of Sabbir Hossain and Anamul Haque, while Jaggesar also bagged two wickets as Rajshahi slumped to four for 22 in chase of Sylhet's 117.

Rajshahi players have been suffering from payment issues, and having fielded no foreign players on Sunday against Rangpur Riders, they ensured two foreign players' participation in this match against Sylhet, the bare minimum.

Burl, one of those foreign stars, and Akbar, however, ensured that Rajshahi climbed up from the slump with a 75-run stand. Akbar fell in the 15th over after a 38-ball 43, but Burl remained unbeaten on a 34-ball 48 to take Rajshahi to the win with 3.1 overs to spare.

Earlier, Rajshahi bowlers ran riot to restrict Sylhet to 117 for 9. Mrittunjoy Chowdhury struck twice in the fourth over, removing Ariful Haque and Samiullah Shinwari to keep Rajshahi on the prowl. Sylhet's middle order could not deal with SM Meherob's spin, as first Jaker Ali and Zakir Hasan perished to the off-spinner.

Meherob would go on to bag a four-fer, while Sylhet's Ahsan Bhatti and Sumon Khan pulled a rescue act to see them cross the hundred mark.