Rajshahi will need 102 runs with eight wickets in hand on the last day of the National Cricket League (NCL) against Barisal at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi to clinch the title after seven years.
If Rajshahi, who last won the title back in 2011-12, win this year’s title it will help Khulna. Khulna - the hat-trick champions winning the three previous editions of the NCL - will want to stay in tier-1 as they are fighting to salvage their match against Rangpur.
Rajshahi, the winner of four consecutive editions of the NCL from 2008 to 2012 will also equal Khulna’s record of six titles if they prevail this time round.
Meanwhile in tier-2, Dhaka are in driving seat against Sylhet as the latter are still trailing by six runs with six second innings wickets in hand and Dhaka’s win will ensure them a top finish and promotion to tier-1.
Rajshahi v Barisal
Rasjshahi ended the day on 182-2 chasing 284 and two experienced batsmen Junaid Siddique and skipper Jahurul Islam not out on 65 and 25 respectively, to give the side hope.
Previously, Rajshahi openers Mizanur Rahman and Sabbir Hossain made 30 and 49 to give a good platform for the chase that might become tricky with early losses.
Earlier in the day, Barisal resumed on 246-6 before their late-order batsmen added 100 runs to set a challenging fourth innings total. Barisal were bundled out for just 97 in the first day but their bowlers did well to restrict the opponents for 160 and keep their hopes of staying in the tier-1 alive.
Khulna v Rangpur
Rangpur declared their first innings on 249-8 and conceded a 12-run deficit before reducing Khulna to 192-6 at stumps. Soumya Sarkar, who is out of national-fold in the longest format, made 83 and got good support of Nurul Hasan as the latter made 52. The duo added 123 runs in the fourth wicket to salvage the innings after Khulna were reeling on 33-3.
Earlier in the day, Rangpur resumed on 126-4 and despite losing a couple of wickets in quick succession wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh made an unbeaten 50 runs to navigate his side close to the opponents’ first innings total.
Dhaka Metro v Chittagong
Overnight centurion Sadikur Rahman could add only one run before getting out for 101 and despite a wobble in the middle order, Chittagong reached 345 to get a 17-run lead against Dhaka Metro at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar’s.
Yasir Ali, Chittagong’s skipper made 64 and his 80-run stand with Mahidul Islam Ankon, who made 25, helped his side get the crucial lead.
Metro’s pace duo Abu Hider and Qazi Anik were the most successful bowlers picking up four and three wickets respectively.
Metro ended the day on 96-3 with Shamsur Rahman and Mohammad Ashraful remaining not out on 37 and seven respectively.
Dhaka v Sylhet
Dhaka resumed on 236-4, just two runs behind Sylhetat the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground in Cox's Bazar, but Sylhet’s spinner Enamul Haque junior got 5-87 to get them all-out for 346 and restricted from getting a big lead.
Dhaka lost two wickets in the fourth and fifth balls of the day including the wicket of Abdul Mazid, who scored 104, without adding any runs but Mosharraf Hossain made a crucial fifty to get a lead of over one hundred.
In reply, Sylhet were in all sorts of trouble with 12-3 but Rajin Saleh, who is playing his last first-class match remained not out on 40 and stabilized the innings.
