Batters dominated on the third day of the fifth round of the 23rd National Cricket League as Pritom Kumar, Farhad Reza and Pinak Ghosh scored centuries in the match between Rajshahi Division and Chattogram Division at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Unbeaten on 85 on the previous day, Rajshahi's Pritom went on to play a 117-run knock featuring 11 fours and a maximum. Reza scored 111 runs as he and Pritom stitched together a partnership of 198 runs leading their side to 338 for eight before the second innings was declared. Farhad struck five maximums along with seven fours.

Chasing 414 runs, Chattogram's opener Pinak Ghosh smashed 102 runs with eight fours and a couple of maximums. He strung together a 151-run partnership with Shahadat Hossain for the third wicket. But after Shahadat's departure, the batters couldn't keep the momentum going as Chattogram scored 226 runs losing seven wickets. Chattogram need 188 runs to win ahead of the final day with three wickets in hand.

Elsewhere in BKSP, Shuvagata Hom's 76 and Nadif Chowdhury's 82 led Dhaka Division to 371 runs in their first innings against Rangpur Division. In reply, Rangpur put on 68 runs for one wicket as they trail by 303 runs on the final day.

In the other match in BKSP, Soumya Sarkar scored a half-century for Khulna Division. However, a four-wicket haul from Sylhet's Abu Jayed led his side bundle Khulna out for 183 runs.

Meanwhile at SICS academy, fifties from Munim Shahriar and Al Amin helped Dhaka Metropolis score 303 runs for seven against Barishal Division as they ended the third day leading by 42 runs. Barishal's Monir Hossain and Sohag Gazi bagged a couple of wickets each.