Bright start for Abahani in super league
MSC shock Gazi in a close battle
Sports Reporter
Reigning champions Abahani Limited got off to a solid start to the super league phase of the Walton Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, securing a comprehensive 60-run win over Prime Bank Cricket Club by D/L method yesterday at BKSP-4 ground.
The victory however brightened Abahanis chance to retain the title because of the defeat of Gazi Group Cricketers in their first match in the super league phase. Gazi Group who finished the first phase as league leader lost their match to Mohammedan Sporting Club by seven runs at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.
Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club also registered a 40-run victory over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by D/L method at BKSP-3 ground to keep them at the championship race.
Abahani and Doleshwars victory while Gazi Groups defeat made the three teams at same position in the point table with 18 points but Abahani kept them ahead on the basis of net-run-rate.
Abahani vs Prime Bank
While the scorching heat made the peoples life across the country hell, a spell of shower in BKSP ground forced a curtailed game. The match turned to a 47-over affair and Abahani compiled a gigantic 321 for six. As per D/L method the target for Prime Bank was set 334 in 47 overs but the team could amass 273 before being all out in 43.3 overs.
Opener Liton Das continued his rich vein of form, hammering a 73 ball-85 runs knock which laid the platform of a big total. Liton, so far the highest run-maker of the league, smashed eight fours and four sixes. His fellow opener Shadman Islam though couldnt chip-in-with good score, all of the batsmen in the middle order contributed with some fluent knock to keep Abahani ahead.
Saif Hasan made 46 to accompany Liton in a 100-run partnership for the second wicket stand. After their departure of the both of the batsmen, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mohammad Mithun shared 107-run partnership to frustrate Prime Bank further.
Shanto hit one four and three sixes in his 65 off 57 while Mithun sent the ball across the rope four times and smacked three more sixes in his 52 ball-60. Afif Hasan and Manan Sharma all then played little but quick knock to keep Abahani a position of dominance.
Only opener Zakir Hasan could play a fifty plus knock when two or three should make the innings bigger in pursuit of a big total.
They though started fluently courtesy to skipper Mehedi Maurf and Zakir Hasan who added 64 in just seven overs. But the ultra-aggressive mood brought their downfall also as Abahani bowlers were relentless in attack. Zakir made 55 off 38 with seven fours and two sixes. Manan Sharma took three for 54 for Abahani.
Gazi Group vs MSC
Fresh from a century in the previous match, Rony Talukdar was in the course of another century. He however fell for 92 but helped the side to rack up 324 for eight which was too much for Gazi. They though were in the hunt for most of the part of the chase, eventually were restricted to 317 for eight. It was Gazis third straight defeat after the nine successive victory in the league phase.
Thanks to opener Anamul Haque Bijoy and Munim Shahrirar Gazi made a fluent start in the chase of a big total. But they started losing wickets in cluster once Bijoy was out on 36. Munim Shahriar who played 83 ball-88 runs knock kept them in the race while Suhrawardi Shuvo dazzled in the later part to take the side on the verge of the victory before the Mohammedan bowlers regrouped them well to snatch the victory.
Ronys 92 runs knock earlier was complemented by Shamsur Rahmans 74 runs knock. Nazmul Hossain Milon then hammered on his way to make 65 off 57 to help Mohammedan propel past 300 runs mark.
Sheikh Jamal vs Doleshwar
The match turned to a 46-over affair after a spell of shower. Prime Doleshwar however piled up 274 for seven thanks to a brilliant century from opener Imtiaz Hossain Tanna who hit 17 fours and fours sixes in his 128 off 109.
Despite his quick knock, the lower order of the Doleshwar couldnt hit some lusty blow to take the side past 300.
But still it was enough as Sheikh Jamal got a target of 292 in 46 overs as per D/L method. They only could make 251 before being all out in 42.2 overs with Tanbir Hayder scoring highest 46.
