Rakibul Hasan claimed nine wickets for Mymensingh, while Shykat Ali fought back with a brilliant 175 for Sylhet, as the game was evenly poised after the end of the third day of National Cricket League at the Sylhet International Stadium on Monday.
Defending champions Sylhet scored 489 and took an 88-run lead in the first innings before Mymensingh closed the day on 58-0.
Starting the day with 203 runs behind, Sylhet fought back as Tofael Ahmed (79) added 77 and 64 runs with Rejaur Rahman (31) and Shykat鈥攚ho was retired hurt the previous day鈥攔espectively.
Shykat then built a 148-run partnership鈥攖he fourth highest for the ninth wicket in first-class matches in Bangladesh鈥攚ith Ebadot Hossain.
Shykat scored his highest score in first-class cricket with 19 fours and eight sixes, while Ebadot struck his maiden fifty on his way to 58.
Rakibul, who grabbed five on the second day, claimed four more wickets to finish with a figure of 9-168. The left-arm spinner became the fifth bowler after Mosharraf Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Saqlain Sajib, and Sunzamul Islam to register a nine-wicket haul among the Bangladeshi bowlers.
Khulna beat Barishal by seven wickets at the Khulna Divisional Stadium in the second session on the third day.
Barishal, who scored 224 in the second innings after following on, managed to set a target of 38 runs. Abdul Halim, Nahidul Islam, Afif Hossain, and Yasen Muntasir each took two wickets for Khulna.
Afif, who scalped six wickets in the first innings, was adjudged the player of the match.
Dhaka were 75 runs ahead with eight wickets still in hand after a much-improved batting display in the second innings against Rangpur at the Outer Ground of Sylhet Stadium.
Rangpur added 50 more runs with the remaining two wickets on the third day to finish on 358 and took a 137-run lead as Naeem Islam remained unbeaten on 137 with 19 fours.
In reply, Shadman Islam (37) and Rony Talukdar (42) added 72 runs for the opening partnership before Ashiqur Rahman and Jishan Alam continued to mount runs for Dhaka.
Ashiqur remained unbeaten on 46, while Jishan was 20 runs away from a hundred.
Pritom Kumar and Meherob Hasan were giving Rajshahi an outside hope with their twin unbeaten fifties after they were set a target of 483 runs by Chattogram at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium.
Yasir Ali (92) missed out centuries in both innings before Chattogram declared their second innings on 277-9. Shafiqul Islam took 4-66, while Asaduzzam grabbed 3-35 for Rajshahi.
After becoming 129-4, Pritom and Meherob stitched a 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Pritom remained unbeaten on 56, while Meherob was batting on 54.
