Sylhet Division returned to the winning track beating Barisal Division by an impressive eight wickets in the National Cricket League Monday.

After this outright win, Sylhet kept their second slot in the league securing 18 points from eight outings.

After the 8th round matches, Chittagong almost confirmed their title of the first national league while Sylhet and Dhaka will fight for the runners-up position.

Dhaka brightened their hope securing 14 points from eight matches as they defeated Khulna Division by seven wickets Monday.

At the Barisal Abdur Rab Serniabat Stadium, Sylhet reached their winning target of 46 runs losing two wickets in 25.1 overs against Barisal on the last day of the three-day match.

They resumed their innings with overnight score of 19 for 2 and added the required 27 runs without further loss.

At the Jessore Stadium, star-studded Dhaka reigstered their successive second outright victory in the National Cricket League beating Khulna by seven wickets on the last day.

Replying to 100 runs, Dhaka reached their target of 101 runs for three wickets in 25 overs.

Javed Omar Belim Gulla and Al Shahriar Rokon helped the team easily reach the target. Opener Gulla scored 46 runs off 63 balls with three fours while Rokon made unbeaten 45 off 74 balls with three boundaries.

Spinners Sheikh Salahuddin and Ahmed Kamal Colonel took one wicket each for 16 and 31 runs respectively.

Earlier, resuming with overnight score of 67 for 4, Khulna scored 262 runs for all in the second innings.

A brilliant knock of 84 runs by number seven batsman Asadullah Khan Biplob enabled his team to reach the respectable total.

Biplob's 125-ball innings featured nine fours and a six. He had a 99-run association in the seventh wicket stand with Masudul Haq Mithu, who scored 41 runs off 89 balls that included five fours.

Spinner Fahim Muntasir Sumit, who took two wickets on Sunday, completed his 2nd innings figure with four for 49 in 21 overs while Saiful Islam and Naimur Rahman Durjoy claimed two wickets each.

Sumit was adjudged man of the match for his fabulous bowling in the both innings. In the first innings, he had a six wickets haul.

The ninth round of the 10-match each national league will be held on January 3, 4 and 5.

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Barisal Division 1st Innings- 111/10 in 45.5 overs, Mofizur Rahman 26, extras 17, Hasibul Hossain Shanta 6/37, Mohammed Rafique 4/18.

Barisal Division 2nd Innings- 108/10 in 45.5 overs, Sohel Islam 24 n.o., Manjurul Islam 21, extras 9, Mohammed Rafique 5/25, Hasibul Hossain Shanta 4/60, Iqbal Hossain 1.14.

Sylhet Division 1st Innings- 173/10 in 67.2 overs, Hasibul Hasan Shanta 25, Neeyamur Rashid Rahul 25, Iqbal Hossain 24, extras 28, Sohel Islam 5/37, Totam 2/42, Moinuzzaman 1/27, Rahat 1/45.

Sylhet Division 2nd Innings- 47/2 in 25.1 overs, Parvez Ahmed 28, Mohammed Rafique 6, Selim Shahed 4, extars 9, Sohel Islam 1/6, Faruque Ahmed 1/3. ------------------------- SCORE:

Khulna Division 1st Innings- 118/10 in 60.3 overs, Sajid Hasan 32, Selim 20, Mofizul Islam 15, Khairuzzaman Babu 15, Al Amin 19 n.o., extras 9, Fahim Muntasir Sumit 6/29, Saiful Islam 2/12.

Khulna Division 2nd Innings- 262/10 in 110.1 overs, Sajid Hasan 42, Jamaluddin Babu 18, Al Amin 23, Asadullah Khan Biplob 84, Masudul Haq Mithu 41, Khairuzzaman Babu 13, extras 12, Fahim Muntasir Sumit 4/49, Saiful Islam 2/30, Naimur Rahman Durjoy 2/45.

Dhaka Division 1st Innings- 280/10 in 88 overs, Shahriar Hossain Biddyut 32, Javed Omar Belim Gulla 35, Al Shahriar Rokon 21, Fahim Muntasir Sumit 22, Khaled Mahmud Sujon 40, Atiar Rahman 37, Saiful Islam 47 n.o., extras 13, Sheikh Salahuddin 5/76, Jamaluddin Babu 2/59.

Dhaka Division 2nd Innings- 101/3 in 25 overs, Shahriar Hossain Biddyut 4, Javed Omar Belim Gulla 46, Sanwar Hossain 1, Al Shahriar Rokon 45 n.o., extras 5, Sheikh Salahuddin 1/16, Ahmed Kamal Colonel 1/31.

© 1999