Mosaddek blasts century for Abahani
Legends, Doleshwar win other two matches
Sports Reporter
Young prodigy Mosaddek Hossain Saikat continued his good form, hitting a tremendous century as reigning champions Abahani Limited got off to a good start to the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League yesterday at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.
Despite facing a stiff challenge from the Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity, Saikats unbeaten 110 off 85 stabbed off any upset and steered Abahani to a comfortable five-wicket victory.
When Saikat starred in Abahanis victory, Legends of Rupganj made a highflying start to the league with a four-wicket win over Brothers Union at BKSP-4 ground thanks to an unbeaten 75 runs knock from captain Mushfiqur Rahim.
In the days another match, runners-up Prime Doleshwar crushed Partex Sporting Club by 78 runs at BKSP-3 ground, courtesy to a five for 33 by left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny.
Abahani vs Khelaghar
Khelaghar raised a prospect of an upset by reducing Abahani to 85 for three when the defending champions were chasing a target of 294. Dollar Mahmud helped Khelaghar get off to a good start, dismissing Abahani opener Saif Hasan in the second ball of the innings.
Sadman and Nazmul Hossain though shared an 82-run partnership to ease the tension, Khelaghar took the upper-hand of the match, getting rid of both of them in the space of three runs.
Saikat arrived at the moment when an upset defeat was loomed. However he made sure there would be no hiccup, firstly adding a 127-run for the fourth wicket with captain Mahmudullah Riyad and then stitched another significant 81-run with Mohammad Mithun. Riyad scored a timely 59.
Saikat who made a key contribution in helping Abahani regain the premier league title in the last year, seemed to start this season from where he left off in the last year. He brought up his fifty off 51 balls and then reached his century, by bringing up his second fifty off just 28 balls.
He finally was removed on 110 runs as the score was level. Saikats innings was laced with 12 fours and two sixes. After his departure, Mithun Ali hit the winning boundary to ensure teams victory, remaining not out on 42 off 27 as Abahani gunned down the total with 15 balls to spare.
Khelghars skipper Nafis Iqbal however led the side from the front, smashing 68 ball-78 that was featured with five fours and four sixes. Opener Robiul Islam Robi contributed 74 and by virtue of those two 70 plus knocks, Khelaghar amassed 293 for six. New ball bowler Saifuddin scalped three for 45 while Kazi Anik took two.
Legends vs Brothers
Despite the presence of Mashrafe, Mushfiqur Rahim is appointed as the captain of Legends of Rupganj and helped the side start the league with good note. His unbeaten 75 was the difference between the two sides while Brothers Union fought neck-to-neck.
Brothers put up 206 for nine in the scoreboard after batting first with Sharif claiming three for 25. Mashrafe who came to bowl as second-changed bowler delivered straight eight overs and bagged two wickets for 28.
The target seemed to be easy for the Rupganj but they tasted a batting debacle before Mushfiqur came up as a rescuer. The second highest score for Rupganj was Hasanuzzamans 31 showed how one-man show the chase was. However Mushfiqurs 75 that was designed with five fours and one six finally helped the side reach the target in 46.1 overs.
Prime Doleshwar vs Partex
Opener Abdul Majids 77 and Marshall Ayubs 63 steered Prime Doleshwar to a strong 287 for nine after the teams captain Farhad Reza opted to bat first.
Left arm spinner Arafat Sunny made the life difficult for Partex by his natural variation that was tough to deal with. Partexs Indian recruit Yash Pal Singh made 74 but Sunny eventually propelled the side to the victory, restricting them to 209 for nine. Sunny claimed five for 33.
