Khulna made heavy weather of their chase but still prevailed over Barisal by three wickets in their National Cricket League second phase game at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Rajshahi, on the other hand, had no such problems in their 79-run victory over Dhaka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

The win made sure both teams drew level with Dhaka on eight points from seven outings (the first phase points are added to the second phase). Barisal are top of the table with 10

points from as many games.

KHULNA-BARISAL

Opener Nazmus Sadat's 71 held the Khulna innings together after Barisal set them a 214-run target. In his 93-ball knock, the left-hander hit five boundaries and two sixes, mainly playing a holding role while wickets fell whenever a partnership gathered pace.

Sadat himself was the seventh man out at the end of the 38th over when left-armer Monir Hossain trapped him in front. That could have spelt trouble for Khulna but Ziaur Rahman and Dollar Mahmud calmed their nerves with three timely blows, two of which were huge sixes by the towering Zia.

Shakib Al Hasan, playing in his second game, played a curious innings, giving chances aplenty. One of his top-edges fell between Barisai wicketkeeper Shahin Hossain and Shahriar Nafees inside the circle. Shakib's 33-ball 35 was brought to an end when Asif Ahmed's straighter one had him castled.

Earlier, Arafat Salahuddin and Shohag Gazi revived Barisal's faltering innings with an 81 -run eighth wicket stand. The in-form Arafat made another important contribution for his adopted division, making 64 off 83 balls with five fours and a six.

Shakib took three for 34 while off-spinner Nazimuddin Ripon picked up two for 23 from 10 overs.

DHAKA-RAJSHAHI

Rajshahi bounced back from Monday's four-wicket defeat to Khulna with a convincing 79-run turnaround against Dhaka.

Junaed Siddiqui's 60 was a welcome return to form for the left-hander who had thus far had a dry spell in the domestic competition. The left-hander hit eight boundaries in a 76-ball 60, also adding 96 for the second wicket with Sabbir Rahman.

The Rajshahi all-rounder top-scored with 74 off 89 balls with five fours and a six. Some lusty late-order hitting from Forhad Reza (35 off 14 balls) made sure that the Khaled Mashud-led side went past the 250-run mark for the third game in a row.

Later, Dhaka's top-order could not capitalise after making starts and some undisciplined running between the wickets made sure they were behind from the onset.

Mohammad Ashraful had a torrid time, his innings finally coming to an end with a slashed cut off left-turn spinner Sohrawardi Shuvo that ended in Jahurul Islam's lap at short third-man.

Shuvogoto Hom’s 62-ball 56 that had three sixes and two boundaries kept Dhaka in the hunt, but the innings was over in the 41st over when Shahadat Hossain was cleaned up by Rajshahi's lone pacer Reza.

BRIEF SCORES

BARISAL: 213-8 in 50 overs (Arafat 64, Nasiruddin 40, Gazi 26; Shakib 3-34, Ripon 2-23).

KHULNA: 219-7 in 44.4 overs (Sadat 71, Shakib 35, Ziaur 24 not out; Monir3-52, Asif 3-55). Result; Khulna won by three wickets.

RAJSHAHI: 276-8 in 50 overs (Sabbir 74, Junaed 60, Forhad 35 not out; Ashraful 3-56, Sunny 2-32).

DHAKA: 197 all out in 40.1 overs (Shuvogoto 56, Sunny 28, Rony 26; Naeem 2-20).

Result: Rajshahi won by 79 runs.