Ariful, Nasir put Rangpur on top of Khulna in NCL

Ariful Haque struck 97 while Nasir Hossain continued his rich vein of form with 66 as Rangpur Division took upper-hand over defending champions Khulna Division in the Tier-1's second round game of the Bangabandhu 22nd National Cricket League (NCL), reports BSS.

Thanks to the duo's crucial knocks, Rangpur was bowled out for 364 on Tuesday at Rangpur Divisional Stadium in their first innings, in reply of Khulna's 221, taking a 143-run lead. Khulna, however, ended the day two on 4-1, still with 139 runs deficit.

Resuming the day on 103-3, Rangpur lost overnight batsman Tanbir Hayder for 31 but Nasir and Ariful paved the platform of a strong total. They shared 75-run for the fifth wicket, which was broken with the dismissal of Nasir, who struck nine fours in his 66 off 116.

Later Ariful drove the side ahead of Khulna with the help of Mahmudul Hasan (25) and Dhiman Ghosh. Masum Khan took 4-78 while Abdul Halim and Robiul Islam Robi claimed two wickets apiece Khulna.

In another match, Rajshahi Division registered their first victory in the ongoing NCL and that too in just two days-preciously in just four sessions as they crushed Barishal Division by an innings and nine runs margin at BKSP ground on Tuesday.

In Tier-2 game of NCL, Rajshahi earlier in the first round conceded an 88-run defeat to Chattogram Division while for Barishal, it was their second defeat in a row following their eight-wicket drubbing to Dhaka Metropolis.

Left-arm spinner duo Sunjamul Islam and Taijul Islam were the wrecker-in-chief in the manic game, demonstrating a gem of spin show. Sunjamul snared 10-33 in the match while Taijul claimed 8-62, sharing 18 of 20 wickets of Barishal in the match. Mohor Sheikh took the rest of the two wickets, that too in the first innings.

Taijul was adjudged man of the match, largely due to his impact in the game as he broke the spine of Barishal batting, taking some crucial wickets.

Meanwhile, Sylhet Division put them in strong position against Dhaka Division, defying Shuvagata Hom in the Tier-1's second round game NCL at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, ground-1, in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday.

Dhaka ended the day two on 239-6, still trailing by 131 runs. Much will depend on Shuvagata Hom who held together the innings, remaining unbeaten on 89.

In another match, Pinak Ghosh hit his career-best 159 as Chattogram Division kept them aloft over Dhaka Metro in Tier-2's second round game of the NCL at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, ground-2 in Cox's Bazar on Tuesday.

Chattogram declared its first innings on 402-8 after which Dhaka Metro ended the day two on 132-3. Chattogram is in the lead of 270 runs at this moment.