Thrilling finish awaits at Rajshahi

The ongoing 19th National Cricket League has been highlighted by fierce competitiveness and intensity from the get go and the third day of the first class competition's opening round yesterday, being held across the country, was no exception.

So far, the teams have displayed an attacking approach and this push for results may certainly raise the standard of the crucial first-class tournament, which, not long ago, was termed 'Picnic cricket'.

Moving into the third day at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Rajshahi made a brilliant comeback and needed to score another 125 runs with eight wickets in had to secure a win against Sylhet on the final day.

Sylhet were all-out on 162 after resuming on 90 for 5. Rajin Saleh top scored with 39 runs while medium pacer Forhad Reza and left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib once again picked up three wickets each after bagging the same scalps in the first innings.

Rajshahi made a confident start coming into chase the target of 211 runs and scored 86 for 2 after bad light closed the day's play with Zunaid Siddique (not out) and Farhad Hossain (10 not out) set to resume the final day.

Elsewhere, Rangpur's wicket-keeper batsman Anamul Haque, who reached his hundred in the second day, went on to score an unbeaten 172 as his side ended the day on 342 for 4 and still trail Khulna by 129 runs. Khulna posted 471 all-out in the first innings.

Anamul will look to smash his maiden first class double century in hopes of catching the selectors' attention to make a comeback in the national side.

At the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong is struggling against Dhaka Metro as they trail by 372 runs in the second innings when they resume the fourth day on 11-0.

Dhaka Metro declared their second innings on 169-6, where skipper Marshal Ayub scored an unbeaten 74 runs and posted a huge target of 383.

Meanwhile, rain once again interrupted the game between Dhaka Division and Barisal at the Sheikh Kamal International cricket stadium in Cox's Bazar where the third day was cancelled without a single ball being bowled after the first day was also abandoned due to a wet out-field following overnight showers.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

DHAKA METRO VS CHITTAGONG
DHAKA METRO: 344 all-out 1st innings and 169-6 declared (Marshal Ayub 74 not out; Mehedi Hasan Rana 3-37) 
CHITTAGONG: 130 all-out and 11-0 CHITTAGONG trail by 372 runs.
KHULNA VS RANGPUR
RANGPUR: 471 all-out (Naeem 135, Dhiman 105, Sohrawordi 89; Al Amin Hossain 4-102, Razzak 3-126) 
KHULNA: 342-4 (Anamul Haque 172 not out, Robiul Islam 100; Nasir Hossain 2-30) KHULNA trail by 129 runs.
RAJSHAHI VS SYLHET
SYLHET: 128 all-out 1st innings and 162 all-out ( Rajin Saleh 39; Saqlain Sajib 3-27, Forhad 3-28) 
RAJSHAHI: 79 all-out 1st innings and 86-2 (Zunaid Siddique 28 not out Jahurul Islam 35) RAJSHAHI need 125 runs to win.
DHAKA VS BARISAL
DHAKA: 309 for 2 (Rony Talukdar 121, Saif Hasan 106 not out), Third day abandoned due to rain.