Rajshahi and Chittagong stormed to the top of the first-class table of the Ispahani Seventh National Cricket League with outright victories against their respective oppositions yesterday.

A seven-wicket haul by off-spinner Sabbir Khan spearheaded Chittagong to dump previous round leaders Sylhet by one innings and 69 runs in Dhaka while Rajshahi recorded a ten-wicket win over Khulna at home inside three days in the four-dayers. Both the sides are now level on 26 points after seven rounds.

In the other match, hosts Barisal staged a superb fightback against Dhaka as the match apparently headed for a draw with one day remaining.

CHITTAGONG-SYLHET
Resuming on 198-8, Sylhet were forced to follow-on at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium when they were bundled out for 214 in the first innings in reply to Chittagong's mammoth 579.

Sylhet made a bright start to their second innings with Golam Mabud (86 off 96 balls) and Rezaul Haque (65 off 95 balls) anchoring firmly. But from a comfortable 247-3, Sylhet crashed to 296 all out as Sabbir Khan scalped seven wickets for 81 from 21.5 overs. The man-of-the-match award, however, went to Chittagong's young spinner Yasin Arafat who finished the match with eight wickets including 6-56 in the first innings.

RAJSHAHI-KHULNA
Khulna added 125 runs to their overnight 207-2 before being booked in the second innings at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium, setting the in-form hosts a paltry 102-run winning target. Overnight 117, Nazmus Sadat was dismissed on 151, studded with 17 fours and one six in 240 deliveries.

Rajshahi, who are just one win away from retaining the one-day title, took only 20.3 overs to rattle 105 with openers Jahurul Islam and Farhad Hossain contributing 51 and 49 respectively.

Mushfiqur Rahman was adjudged man-of-the-match for his all-round display featuring six wickets in the match and 57 runs.

DHAKA-BARISAL
Nasiruddin Faruque's patient 101 off 202 deliveries inspired Barisal's fightback at the Barisal Stadium as the home side reached 305-6 in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to Dhaka's 395. Faruque, who was 31 at the end of second day, shared 102 runs with his overnight partner Nadif Chowdhury (57) for the fourth wicket. Faruque's four and a half-hour knock was laced with 17 fours and two sixes.