Al Shahriar's magnificent form helped Dhaka cruise to a six-wicket win over visiting Khulna with nearly 17 overs to spare while Rajshahi snatched a 15-run home win against a stubborn Chittagong to maintain their winning streak with four out of four wins.

Bottom-table Barisal, meanwhile, pressed Sylhet under tons of runs in a massive 109-run win at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

The four-day matches will start today.

DHAKA-KHULNA
What turned out to be a one-sided affair at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, was highlighted by two sparking batting displays by two national cricketers of the past and present.

Playing his first National League game of the season, Mashrafee Bin Mortuza topscored 42 off 60 balls to help Khulna reach a face saving 177 before being booked in 44 overs. Mashrafee came to the wicket with his side in the midst of a collapse which saw the tourists lose five wickets in the space of 32 runs.

However, the national pace spearhead cracked half a dozen boundaries during a 60-run stand with Jamaluddin Babu. His efforts went down the drains as Khulna lost the last four wickets adding just seven runs after Mashrafee hoisting a delivery by rival paceman Mohammad Sharif to Uttam Sarkar at deep cover.

Earlier, young opener Aslam Ali made 39 to give Khulna a good start, adding 60 runs for the second wicket with Monirul Islam. Sharif, who captured 4-17 from nine overs, was adjudged man-of-the-match.

Mashrafee took the new ball but stuck to medium pace in his five-over first spell, conceding 20 runs as opening pair Uttam (52 off 64 balls) and Rashedul Haque took the score to 45 by the ninth over. Ziaur Rahman removed Rashedul, caught by Tushar Imran on 18 at short midwicket but the latter dropped a sitter when Uttam drove Al Amin to mid-off on 34.

Uttam, a prolific scorer in the recently concluded Premier League, went on to complete his fifty with ten fours but it was skipper Al Shahriar who really dictated the terms during a fluent 38-ball 49 with 36 of those runs coming from boundaries. He batted straight; played exquisite lofted drives and raced the scoreboard as Dhaka reached 180-4 in only 32.5 overs.

Although he skied a catch at wide long-off just one run short of a deserved half-century, the flawless innings only reminded how skilful a batsman he is and how dangerous he can get on his day. Despite the form and time on his side why the selectors ignored him for a national recall for the home series against Sri Lanka remains still a mystery. Shahriar finished with highest aggregate of runs in the Premier League, scoring 562 with six 50s as an opener.

A local club official watching the match commented, "The selectors, especially our coach, should have watched Shahriar play like this. He would have been the perfect choice to end the everlasting problem of the opening slot in the national team. A batsman in form as he is should be given the chance to play at home."

RAJSHAHI-CHITTAGONG
In a high-voltage drama at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, Chittagong gave the hosts a run for their money but eventually failed. In reply to Rajshahi's commanding 273-3 built around half centuries by Jahurul Islam (52 off 60 balls) and Hasanuzzaman Rosel (62 off 72 balls), the visitors were all out for 258 in 49.3 overs.

Chittagong were in for early trouble when man-of-the-match Shafaq Al Jabir tore apart the top order taking 3-36. Left-handed Faisal Hossain (82 off 103 balls) and wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh (76 off 85 balls), who came together at a precarious 39-4, put on 154 runs for the fourth wicket to repair the damage but the tail could not give finishing touch to the job.

SYLHET-BARISAL
Half centuries by the top three set Barisal's way to 302 for five in allotted 50 overs after being put into bat. Imran Ahmed made 94 off 126 balls with help of nine fours, providing the launching pad of the huge total during two century partnerships with Hannan Sarker (53 off 81 balls) and Humayun Kabir (63 off 69 balls).

Sylhet never threatened to challenge their rivals but batted throughout their quota of 50 overs to end on 193-9, thanks to number four Golam Mawla's 66 not out.