Roqibul Hassan and Naeem Islam scored centuries for their respective teams Barisal and Rajshahi to lead them to second consecutive win in the National Cricket League one-day version on Tuesday.
On a day dominated by batsman, former skipper Mohammad Ashraful also strengthened his stake for a return to the national side with an unbeaten half-century helping Dhaka in a comfortable win against Sylhet.
Among the batsmen who are vying for a place in the unsettled national team middle-order only Junaed Siddique flopped as the left-hander suffered a first ball duck.
Rajshahi v Chittagong
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Naeem Islam, who is facing a strong challenge for a regular place in the national team’s starting lineup, shared a 212 runs for the third wicket with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to take Rajshahi 281-6.
Mushfique was out on 93 off 111 balls but Naeem hung on till the end to remain unbeaten 113 off 125 balls. The batting all-rounder struck six fours and four six in his innings.
Chittagong were all out for 130 runs with more than 11 overs to play, giving Rajshahi a 151-run win. All-rounder Sabbir Rahman, who smashed a century in the previous match, took three wickets for 13 runs. Naeem accomplished a brilliant all-round performance with 2-7 to win man of the match award.
Barisal v Khulna
Fresh from an unbeaten 90 in the previous game, Roqibul Hasan, so criticised for his flop show in the New Zealand series, buried all debates about his position in the national side with an even better performance that took Barisal level with Rajshahi in the points table with a 19-run win over Khulna at Bogra.
Riding on his 99-ball 101 not out, inclusive of seven fours and two sixes, Barisal ended their stipulated 50 overs on 252-5. Shahriar Nafees chipped in with 42 off 64 balls.
Tushar Imran guided Khulna almost home with 98 off 110 balls but four wickets from Kamrul Islam folded their innings on 233 runs in 48.2 overs.
Dhaka v Sylhet
Leg spinner Nur Hossain ripped through the middle order with 3-33 as Dhaka dismissed Sylhet for 158 runs with number nine batsman Abul Hasan making highest 37 runs.
Dhaka raced to 162-3 with almost 20 overs to spare as Ashraful hammered 66 off 52 balls. Ashraful, who struck seven fours and two sixes, completed his fifty off 37 balls.
He shared 114 runs in the fourth wicket with Shamshur Rahman, who was out on 50 facing 88 balls.
