Defending champions Rajshahi came within sight of retaining the coveted national one-day title when they recorded their seventh consecutive victory in the Ispahani Seventh National Cricket League yesterday.

Rajshahi snatched a two-wicket win over Khulna to stretch their collection to 14 points after seven rounds which left them just one victory away from the crown. With three rounds remaining, they have opened up a six-point gap with Dhaka, who led the table till the fourth round but crashed to their third successive defeat, losing by

five wickets away at Barisal.

In the other match, Sylhet coasted to a 36-run home win against Chittagong.

RAJSHAHI-KHULNA

A 49-run eighth wicket partnership between Mushfiqur Rahman (16 not out) and Sohrawardi Shuvo (26) spearheaded Rajshahi to 188-8 after Shafaq Al Jabir had destroyed Khulna for 184 at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.

Paceman Shafaq grabbed five wickets for 24 as Khulna, well placed at 131-2 with in-form opener Nazmus making 64, lost their last six wickets for 24 runs. Shafaq was adjudged the man-of-the-match.

Rajshahi were staring at a defeat when they slumped to 127-7 but seasoned all-rounder Mushfiq and his junior partner Shuvo guided

them home with two overs to spare.

DHAKA-BARISAL

After electing to bat at the Barisal Stadium, Dhaka recovered from a precarious 84-6 to score a respectable 190. Number six Mehrab Hossain Jr hammered 56 off 46 balls with half a dozen boundaries while Mohammad Sharif contributed a 16-ball 29 in the slog overs.

Khulna banked on a good start to reach 191-5 in 38.2 overs, thanks to opener Imran Ahmed's 66. The man-of-the-match, who shared 63 runs with Hannan Sarkar during a 52-ball opening stand, cracked 11 fours in 99 balls. Nadif Chowdhury played a significant role with his 42 not out featuring six fours.

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SYLHET-CHITTAGONG

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, brothers Golam Mawla (60) and Golam Mabud (31) put on 73 for the opening partnership as Sylhet were all out for 239 in exactly 50 overs. However, it was national under-19 left-arm spinner Nabil Samad whose 5-32 from eight overs halted a threatening Chittagong at 203. Tamim Iqbal smashed 43 off 33 balls and Gazi Salahuddin 62 from 67 deliveries before man-of-the-match Nabil, who had contributed a 19-ball 23, ran through the tail.

SCORES IN BRIEF

KHULNA: 184 all out in 48 overs (Sadat 64, Shamsur 28, Sahagir 30, Shafaq 5-24, Farhad 2-39).

RAJSHAHI: 188-8 in 48 overs

(Farhad 26, Naeem 28, Mushfiq 16 n.o., Shuvo 26, Sadat 3-51).

Result: Rajshahi won by two wickets.

DHAKA: 190 all out in 49.1 overs (Uttam 38, Mehrab Jr 56, Kamrul 30, Sharif 29, Sajid 2-14, Arafat 2-39, Sonnet 2-24, Nadif 2-46).

BARISAL: 191-5 in 38.2 overs

(Imran 66, Hannan 30, Nadif 42 n.o., Rezaul 2-38).

Result: Barisal won by five wickets. SYLHET: 239 all out in 50 overs (Rahman 60, Mabud 30, Ezaz 21, Rezaul 32, Nabil 23, Faisal 2-37, Yasin 3-35, Sabbir 2-49).

CHITTAGONG: 203 all out in 41 overs (Tamim 43, Salahuddin 62, Ilias 23, Hasibul 2-37, Mawla 2-24, Nabil 5-32).

Result: Sylhet won by 36 runs.