Dhaka Division will need 18 runs to win against hosts Sylhet Division on the third day of the four-day Bangabandhu 23rd National Cricket League (NCL) Tuesday at the Academy Ground of the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. After scoring 67 runs in the first innings, Sylhet opened the second innings Monday morning with their overnight total of 35/1 and were all out for 174 runs in 71.4 overs with night-watchman Amite Hasan adding 76 runs off 209 balls. Also, opener Imtiaz Hossain (43), Rahatul Ferdous (17) and Jaker Ali (10) were the other main run-scorers for Sylhet.   Nazmul Islam claimed four wickets for 41 runs; Shuvagoto Hom took three for 62 runs. Read: 23rd NCL begins at four venues Chasing 66 runs, Dhaka, who scored 176 runs in the first innings, scored 48/3 in 18 overs in the second innings at the end of day two. After the dismissal of the top three batters – Abdul Mazid (1), Rony Talukder (20) and captain Saif Hassan (12) – for 43 runs, Rakibul Hasan and Taibur Rahman were batting at 5 and 3 runs. In Monday's another match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, replying to Rajshahi's first innings total of 166 runs, hosts Chattogram resumed the first innings in the morning with their overnight score of 126/2 and piled up a total of 349 runs for all in 100 overs. Yasir Ali hit 100 and Irfan Sukkur and captain Mominul Haque half-centuries. The right-handed Yasir, who was batting on 70 runs, scored 129 runs off 198 balls with the help of 15 fours and three sixes. Irfan and Mominul scored 63 and 50 runs. Sanzamul Islam picked up five wickets for 99 runs, while spinner Taijul Islam bagged four wickets for 119 runs. In reply, Rajshahi opened the second innings in the afternoon and made 79 runs for 3 in 22 overs to trail by 104 runs.  Towhid Hridoy was batting on 26 and Jahurul Islam 21; Mizanur Rahman scored 14, Tanzid Hasan 12 for Rajshahi in the second innings.  Mehedi Hasan Rana took two wickets for 16 runs.  In the day's other match, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Rangpur resumed the first innings with 226 for 8 against Khulna and scored 257 for all in 103.1 overs. Read:Bangabandhu 23rd NCL begins Sunday In reply, Khulna opened the first innings and scored 171 for 4 in 54.3 overs on the back of 72 runs by Anamul Haque and trailing by 86 runs. The day's other match between Dhaka Metro and Barishal Division did not take place due to rain at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar. Sunday, Dhaka Metro opened the innings first and scored 239/10 in 82.5 overs, with Sadman Islam scoring 75 runs, Sharifullah 59 and Abu Hider Rony 38. Tanvir Islam snatched six wickets for 78 runs; Kamrul Islam took four for 43 runs. In reply, Barishal scored six runs for one in three overs to trail by 233 runs.

The sixth and final round of the National Cricket League (NCL), the most prestigious first-class cricket event of Bangladesh, will start on Saturday (November 16).