Rajshahi batsman Junaed Siddique is seen disgusted after being dismissed for 95 off the bowling of Khulna’s Tushar Imran during the second day of the National Cricket League final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday. — New Age photo

Abdur Razzak’s four-wicket haul and some cautious batting by the late middle-order batsmen helped Khulna come back strongly on the second day of the National Cricket League final against Rajshahi at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday.
Despite Junaed Siddique’s 95 runs, Rajshahi were dismissed for 258 runs in the first innings with Razzak claiming 4-59 and later Khulna ended the day on 135-5 in their second innings to take an over all lead of 89 runs.
Resuming the day at 135-2, Junaed and Farhad Hossain looked comfortable as they added another 43 runs for the third wicket, posing a threat to Khulna of taking a huge first innings lead after they were earlier dismissed for 212 in the first innings.
But the partnership was eventually broken after they had added 173 runs with skipper Tushar Imran giving the all important breakthrough by removing a dangerous-looking Junaed.
Junaed made 95 from 133 balls with the help of 14 fours and was all set to notch a well deserved century before a delivery pitched outside the off-stump and sharply came back to hit the stumps that the left-hander thought would go away.
After the fall of Junaed, Razzak started his demolition act as Rajshahi lost their last seven wickets for only 80 runs to take a 46-run first innings lead.
Farhad Hossain, who resumed the day with 56 runs, soon joined Junaed in the dressing room after making 77 before being the first victim of Razzak, giving wicketkeeper Mohammad Mithun a sharp catch.
By removing Sabbir Rahman with his next ball Razzak created a chance for a hat-trick but Farhad Reza somehow managed to block the ball to deny him the feat.
Middle-order Hamidul Islam remained unbeaten on 39 but hardly had any support from the other end as the Rajshahi innings ended on 258 in 86.2 overs.
Khulna had a similar start like in the first innings as off-spinner Farhad Hossain trapped Soumyo Sarker in front with the first ball of the innings. He was also trapped lbw in the first over of the first innings by the same bowler.
Imrul Kayes and Ziaur Rahamn added 72 for the second wicket to steady the ship.
Saqlain Sajib broke the partnership by removing Imrul Kayes for 47 and soon a mini-collapse followed the Khulna team.
Ziaur, who was promoted up the order, was next to go making 21off 53 balls after becoming the second victim of Saqlain.
First innings half-centurion Tushar Imaran and Mohammad Mithun made 7 and 10 runs respectively before both became the victims of Sanjamul Islam.
In-form Anamul Haque and Taposh Ghosh saw to it that they do not suffer any further damage as they finished the day remaining unbeaten on 36 and 5 respectively.