Thrillers at Rajshahi and Rangpur

After a dull third round which saw all four matches end in draws, the National Cricket League roared to life in the fourth round, which ended yesterday with two thrilling finishes and two more results. Rangpur Division defeated Barishal Division by five runs, while Sylhet Division ran it even closer, besting Dhaka Metro by just three runs.

Rajshahi -- who were promoted after finishing top of Tier-2 last season -- moved to the top of the Tier-1 table with an eight-wicket win over defending champions Khulna. The margin of victory was the same for Chattogram Division, who overcame Dhaka Division to move to second spot in Tier-2.

In the Tier-2 game at the Sheikh Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Metro started the day on 28 for one in chase of 197. The overnight pair of Shadman Islam and Shamsur Rahman took the score to 77 before Sylhet medium-pacer Khaled Mahmud removed the latter. While Shadman held firm at one end, it was a procession of batsmen at the other as Khaled picked up his second five-for of the match.

It was still Metro's game at 178 for five, but Shadman's dismissal for 78 opened the floodgates as they lost the last five wickets for 15 runs. The memorable win was sealed when Khaled trapped last man Arafat Sunny leg-before.

In the Tier-1 game at the Cricket Garden Stadium in Rangpur, Barishal started the day precariously placed on 71 for three in chase of 230. They lost Shamsul Islam without adding to the score and when Al-Amin was fifth out for 52 with the score on 114, the innings started to unravel and they were staring at certain defeat at 169 for eight. A 54-run ninth-wicket stand between Nuruzzaman and Tanvir Islam then turned the table on the hosts. However, it was all over in a jiffy when both batsmen were dispatched with just six runs left to pull off a sensational win.

At the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, hosts Khulna just had to bat out two sessions to ensure that the match would end in a draw. However, they were bundled out for a paltry 158 as player-of-the-match Forhad Reza took four for 26 while Shafiul Islam and Muktar Ali took three apiece. Rajshahi lost two wickets in reaching the 37-run target.

At the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox's Bazar, Mominul Haque guided Chattogram to an eight-wicket win over Dhaka with an unbeaten 115-ball 111, which included 11 fours and two sixes. Chasing 202 to win, they started the day on 113 for two and Tasamul Haque kept Mominul company with 89 in an unbroken 183-run third-wicket stand.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Medium-pacer Khaled Ahmed picked up his maiden 10-wicket haul in the process of helping Sylhet to a three-run win over Dhaka Metro. The 26-year-old, who only had one five-wicket haul from 19 first-class games before this one, picked five for 85 in Metro's first innings and followed that up with five for 54 in the second.

* Soumya Sarkar has been in tremendous form for Khulna, but was called away on national duty for the ongoing ODI series against Zimbabwe. With Soumya missing at number three on the last day yesterday, Khulna folded for 158 in a match that produced scores of 309 and 431. Rajshahi thus won a match seemingly heading towards a draw and moved to the top of Tier-1.

* Bangladesh Test specialist Mominul Haque struck form at just the right time for Chattogram, hitting his 15th first-class ton as he guided his team to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Dhaka.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

KHULNA V RAJSHAHI

KHULNA: First innings 309 and second innings 158 (Robiul 24, Nurul 22, Nahidul 30 not out, Moinul 23; Shafiul 3-59, Reza 4-26, Muktar 3-13)

RAJSHAHI: First innings 431 and second innings 37 for 2 (Myshukur 7 not out, Jahurul 15 not out: Al-Amin 2-17)

Result: Rajshahi won by 8 wickets.

RANGPUR V BARISHAL

RANGPUR: First innings 147 and second innings 229

BARISHAL: First innings 147 and second innings 224 all out (Al-Amin 52, Mosaddek 29, Nuruzzaman 46; Robiul 4-63, Subashis 2-44, Sanjit 2-43)

Result: Rangpur won by 5 runs.

DHAKA V CHATTOGRAM 

DHAKA: First innings 288 and second innings 151

CHATTOGRAM: First innings 238 and second innings 205 for 2 (Mominul 111 not out, Tasamul 89 not out; Salauddin 1-12)

Result: Chittagong won by 8 wickets.

SYLHET V DHAKA METRO

SYLHET: First innings 312 and second innings 184

DHAKA METRO: First innings 300 and second innings 193 all out (Shadman 78, Shamsur 29, Zahid 28 not out; Khaled 5-54, Enamul 2-8, Ebadat 2-47)

Result: Sylhet won by 3 runs.