Arafat denies Chittagong
Sports Reporter
Arafat Sala-huddin struck a magnificent 139 to save Barisal from a certain defeat against Chittagong while Dhaka and Khulna both played it safe on the final day of the four-day matches in the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea 8th National Cricket League across the country yesterday.Barisal were reduced to 68-5 in their second innings chasing 375 to win at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, but young Arafat ensured a draw with a brilliant hundred as the visitors reached 293 for six at close of play. At the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, the hosts were set a 314-run target in less than a day and did not take any chance, reaching 165 for two at stumps. Meanwhile, Sylhet were frustrated all day by Khulna who declared their second innings only two hours before play ended, giving Sylhet an improbable target of 309 to win in 22 overs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. They were 87 for three when the match ended. CHITTAGONG v BARISAL
The visitors lost skipper Hannan Sarkar early when he was bowled by seamer Tareq Aziz for 10. Spinner Sabbir Khan then joined the lanky paceman and the two demolished the Barisal top-order with only Humayun Kabir surviving the wreck. Coming together at 68-5, Humayun and Arafat did the task of surviving throughout the day properly. They thwarted the rival attack for nearly four hours as Arafat reached his ton in 113 balls. He struck 14 boundaries and seven sixes in his 157-ball stay. Humayun supported him well, hitting six fours and a six in his 73 during a 203-run stand for the sixth wicket. RAJSHAHI v DHAKA
Fast bowler Alamgir Kabir took the early wicket of Dhaka's overnight batsman Uttam Sarkar who scored 77. But Shamsur Rahman prevailed as Dhaka looked to draw the game. He patiently batted for more than four hours to score just 58 with four boundaries. Home left-arm spinner Soharwardi Shuvo took three wickets but with the big target, Jahurul Islam cashed in, scoring a 212-ball hundred to give Rajshahi some semblance of pride. Shuvo was unbeaten with Jahurul, who smote 12 boundaries and a six in his knock. KHULNA v SYLHET
Resuming on 137-3, Khulna also looked to consolidate and give Sylhet no chance in winning the match. Both overnight batsmen Manzarul Islam and Sajjadul Hasan fell early and so it was Asadullah Khan (44), Mohammad Salim (29) and Sadik Khan (21) who slowed things down as Khulan only declared at the fag end of the day with the score on 272 for nine. Part-timer Golam Mabud was the pick of Sylhet attack taking three wickets while seamer Hasibul Hossain took two wickets.
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