Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim shined on their return to competitive cricket after injury but failed to get Rajshahi Division over the line against Chattogram Division in the fifth round match of the ongoing National Cricket League T20 at the Sylhet Outer Stadium today.

Both Hridoy and Mushfiqur were sidelined due to injuries they suffered in Bangladesh's Afghanistan series last month. In their comeback innings, Hridoy struck 69 off 50 balls while Mushfiqur made a 31-ball 46 and together they added 102 runs for the fourth wicket for Rajshahi while pursuing a massive target of 199.

However, Mushfiqur and Hridoy departed in between six deliveries as Rajshahi lost their momentum in the run chase and finished on 194-7, suffering a four-run defeat.

Earlier, fifties from Irfan Shukkur (54) and Mominul Haque (52) helped Chattogram post 198-7 in their 20 overs after being sent into bat first.

Earlier at the same venue, Rangpur Division became the first team to confirm a playoff berth after beating Barishal Division by seven wickets.

Rangpur pacer Alauddin Babu was the wrecker-in-chief as he finished with 4-9 to help bowl out Barishal for just 108 runs in 19.2 overs.

Later, Rangpur opener Chowdhury Rizwan made a well compiled 53 off 44 balls to confirm his side's fifth successive victory with 13 balls to spare.

Meanwhile, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Anamul Haque Bijoy's unbeaten 101 off 67 balls helped Khulna Division clinch a 21-run win over Dhaka Division.

It was the second hundred in this year's NCL T20 after Sylhet's Jishan Alam struck the maiden hundred during the opening game of the competition.

In the day's other game at the same venue, Sylhet's Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby's heroic unbeaten 82 off 39 balls went in vain as they suffered a narrow one-run defeat to Dhaka Metro, who also confirmed their playoff berth with five successive wins after today's victory.