Nuruzzaman carved a match-saving 139 as Rajshahi, resuming the fourth and final day on 70-2 and needing another 165 runs to make Khulna bat again, reached 348 for five.

The 27-year-old Nuruzzaman found a wily partner in Rafiqul Islam. The pair added 180 runs for the second wicket to bail Rajshahi out of danger.

The partnership finally came to an end when Rafiqul, who played one Test against South Africa in 2002, was out one short of a hundred when he was dismissed by off-spinner Tamim Bashir.

Rajshahi lost another wicket when left-arm pacer Syed Russell trapped Anisur Rahman lbw for 16. But Nuruzzaman and Hasanu-zzman steered the side to the finish before Hasanuzzaman returned to the dressing room for 34.

Nuruzzaman was unbeaten on 139 off 290 balls that included 18 boundaries.

The outcome increased Raj-shahi's tally to 24 points after the penultimate round.

Dhaka and Sylhet, which won on day three, jointly finished atop securing 36 points each and the title will be decided after the final round of games.