Rangpur crush Barisal by an innings

ScorecardRangpur Division rode on twin centuries from Dhiman Ghosh and Alauddin Babu to crush Barisal Division by an innings and 40 runs in Rajshahi. Replying to Barisal’s 245 all out, the lower-order of Rangpur led a superb fightback after they had fallen to 48 for 5 on the second morning.It started with a 144-run sixth-wicket stand between Dhiman and captain Suhrawadi Shuvo, who made 82, followed by Dhiman adding another 99 runs for the seventh wicket with Mahmudul Hasan. The big stands continued as Dhiman made 159 off 267 balls and added another 103 runs for the eighth wicket. The most entertaining part of the match was the 114-run stand between Alauddin, who scored 110 runs, and Ariful Haque for the ninth wicket.Barisal had no answer as they were bowled out for 229 runs in 93 overs. Sajidul Islam took three wickets while there were two wickets each for Subashis Roy, Ariful and Mahmudul to close out the match.
ScorecardRajshahi Division got back their groove through a 76-run win over Dhaka Metropolis in Mirpur. They withstood a second-innings century by Asif Ahmed which took Dhaka Metro closer to the 403-run target, with Shafiul Islam and Saqlain Sajib taking three wickets each to dampen any hopes of a thrilling finish.The match built up nicely though it started off as a low-scoring game. Batting first, Rajshahi made 256 with Maisuqur Rahman missing out on a century by nine runs. Abu Haider and Sharifullah took three wickets for Dhaka Metro but when they replied with the bat, they were bowled out for just 129 runs. Shafiul took four wickets to warm up well before the West Indies ODIs in which he earned a recall.Hamidul Islam then extended Rajshahi’s lead with 78 runs though he found little support from the other batsmen. The match however panned out into something of a contest when Asif began to take charge on the final day. None of the other Dhaka Metro batsmen crossed the 33-mark but Asif held firm, scoring 148 runs in five and a half hours. He was the sixth man out, and with him any hope of Dhaka Metro making a final dash for the target dissipated, and Rajshahi went on to confirm seven points and their second win in the competition.
ScorecardKhulna Division have taken a big lead in the National Cricket League after they crushed Sylhet Division by ten wickets in Rangpur. Sylhet narrowly avoided an innings defeat as Left-arm spinner Murad Khan took six wickets to take his team to a winning position in the second innings. They are now on 34 points after five straight wins.Khulna, in the first innings, rode on Tushar Imran’s 156 as they made a competitive 367 in their first innings, in reply to Sylhet’s 244. Imtiaz Hossain struck 108 for Sylhet but Abdur Razzak’s three wickets did much of the damage.Enamul Haque jnr took four wickets, but the batsmen floundered as they were bowled out for just 130 runs in the second innings, succumbing to Murad.
ScorecardDhaka Division have moved to the second position after they posted their third win, defeating Chittagong Division by an innings and 69 runs. The comprehensive victory was set up on the first day when left-arm spinners Mosharraf Hossain and Nazmul Islam took four wickets each to skittle out Chittagong for 138 runs.Dhaka replied well, piling up 401 runs, as Nadif Chowdhury scored 114 while the big-hitting Nazmul Hossain Milon smashed 77 off 88 balls.Chittagong required 263 to avoid an innings defeat, but Mosharraf’s five-for helped bowl them out for 194 runs in the 71st over, ensuring a smooth third day for Dhaka, who won handsomely.