Rains push Shinepukur in muddle
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Shinepukur Cricket Club fell in the web of a tough equation when they lost to Gazi Group Cricketers by 21 runs (DLS method) in the 10th-round fixture of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Now they have to win the last match against Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity along with their closest opponents- Mohammedan Sporting Club, Gazi Group Cricketers and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who chalked up the identical 10 points, have to lose that could pave their way to move to the Super League for the first time.
Leaders Legends of Rupganj, Abahani Limited, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club already sealed their respective berths of the Super League, which is expected to begin on April 15, a day after Pahela Boishakh, the first month of Bengali Calendar.
As a result, the 11th and last round games of the DPL have been turned to be decider because only two among the four teams will go through to join the quartet in the Super League.
Put in to bat, Shinepukur Cricket Club compiled a meager 177 for nine courtesy of Shadman Islam Anik and Delwar Hossain, the duo struck the identical 40 each.
Sanjit Saha Deep was the pick who claimed four wickets for Gazi Cricketers, leaking only 25 runs in his 10-over quota.
To chase down the target, Gazi Group Cricketers fell into the devastation from Mustafizur Rahman, who played his first match upon his return from New Zealand and showed his brilliance with ball as he sent back opener Waliul Karim for duck and one-down Imrul Kayes for five in the initial first over.
Shamsur Rahman Shuvo then attempted to steady the ship with fellow batsman Mahedi Hasan and hit 46 with Mahedi for the third-wicket stand but Mustafizur dismentled Mahedi for 13.
Shuvo shared 32 with Rony Talukdar for the fourth-wicket stand before Ronys dismissal for 16 having run out by Delwar Hossain.
When Shuvo made an unbeaten 22 with Kamran Ghulam, the rained struck again and were declared winners according to the Duckworth- Lewis- Stern (DLS) method.
Mohammedan Sporting Club lived up their high hopes of going to the Super League alive when they posted a imposing 133-run win (DLS) over Prime Bank Cricket Club in the 10th-round fixture of the DPL at the BKSP Ground-4 in Savar yesterday.
Mohammedan Sporting Clubs challenging total of 296-9 was built by Raqibul Hasans scintillating hundred (102) along with Rajat Bhatias fifty-plus score (66) after being sent in to bat first on BKSPs batting paradise.
Mohammedan made a calamitous start as they lost Irfan Sukkur in the initial third ball of the innings without making any individual score.
Left-arm spinner Monir Hossain compounded their batting woes when he sent Liton Kumar Das and Avishek Mitra back while they were tattering at 63 for three in 13.3 overs.
Motijheel-based outfit were reeling further when they slumped to 5-88 from 3-63. Together with Rajat Bhatia, Raqibul Hasan lifted the team from such unsteady situation. The pair pulled together an invaluable 146 for the sixth-wicket stand that based the strong foundation of the big total.
Sohag Gazis late cameo 14-ball 33 that gave the magnitude of the total.
In reply, Prime Bank Cricket Club poured their sweats to chase down the target of 297 despite having a batting friendly BKSP track. The rains made its inroad on the second innings. Then they had been given a revised target of 284. They managed to put on 150 for nine in 39.1 overs on the board. Nahidul Islam top-scored for the Bankers with 28. Anamul Haque Bijoy (26) and Abhimanyu Easwarna (22) were the other contributors. Sohag Gazi picked up four wickets and Mohammad Ashraful grabbed three wickets for the winners. Raqibul Hasan was name for the player of the match award.
Elsewhere at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity raised storm in the bottom of the points-table when they routed Brothers Union by 12 runs (DLS) and saved them from the relegation blushes.
Fazle Mahmud smashed 103 geared up Brothers Union to muster a modest 267 for six in their stipulated 50 overs, after which Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity put on 84 for one in 20 overs with Robiul Islam Robi scoring 39 and Mahidul Islam Ankon making 21.
