The fifth round of the 23rd National Cricket League got underway with a five-wicket-haul from Chattogram's Nayeem Hasan against Rajshahi Division at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Nayeem, the national Test team off-spinner, has been consistent throughout the edition of the tournament as he had 24 wickets to his name ahead of yesterday's encounter. Furthermore, his fifer led his side to restrict their opponents for 194 in 54.4 overs.

Hasan Murad and Shahin Alam scalped a couple of wickets each for Chattogram while Rajshahi's Farhad Reza scored 54 runs. In reply, Chattogram reached 56 for four, ending the day 138 runs behind.

In the other match in Sylhet, Dhaka Metropolis' batting lineup collapsed against Barishal Division as they were bundled out for 87. Dhaka opener Zahiduzzaman was the only one to reach double figures as he scored 40 featuring seven fours before being dismissed by Islamul Ahsan Abir, who scalped three more further down the innings. Barishal's veteran left-arm spinner Monir Hossain picked up three wickets for 15 runs while Ruyel Miah bagged two.

Coming in to bat, Barishal lost both their openers within 19 runs. Afterwards, skipper Fazle Mahmud Rabbi and Salman Hossain Emon stitched together a 117-run partnership as Barishal scored 136 for two to take a 49-run lead ahead of the second day.

Mahmud, a consistent run-getter for Barishal, scored 65 runs while Salman Hossain remained unbeaten on 47. The Tier-1 matches of Round 5, which were supposed to take place at BKSP, didn't get underway due to bad weather.