Gazi emerge new DPL champs
Abahani ride on Afifs credible hat-trick
Sports Reporter
Gazi Group Cricketers are the new champion of Premier Division League (DPL) for the 2016-17 season with one match in hand. After Abahanis last round victory, both Gazi Group and Abahanis points have been equalised (24 points) but Gazi are adrift of Abahani and third placed Prime Doleshwar in head to head.
However, Afif Hossains career best List-A performance of five wickets with credible hat-trick mesmerised Abahani Limited to set up a six-wicket victory (D/L method) over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the fifth and last round fixture of the Super League of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at BKSP Ground-4 yesterday.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club opted to bat and put on 162 for seven in 30.4 overs before the intervention of the rain. Later when the rain stopped, Abahani was given a target of 124 in 20 overs what they overhauled with 16 balls to spare.
Despite being made a solid start Sheikh Jamal became unsteady in the face of Afif Hossains brilliant hat-trick. With his spin magic Afif removed Abdullah Al Mamun, Sohag Gazi and Ziaur Rahman in the first three deliveries of his second over and completed his maiden hat-trick in his List-A career. The young offspinner eclipsed his previous best of 2-48 what he did against Prime Bank Cricket Club in the opener of the Super League. Later Afif, the vice-captain of Bangladesh U-19, enriched his wicket tally further getting rid of Jamals topscorer Mahbubul Karim and Tanvir Haider. Afif finished his bowling figures with 10-0-32-5.
Top-scorer Karim clouted four sixes and as many fours in his 59-ball 60. Fazle Mahmud (34), Abdullah Al Mamun (36) and Tanvir Haider (17) were the other contributors of the Sheikh Jamal.
Chasing the target, Abahani Limited made 58 runs through their second wicket stand of Saif Hassan and Shadman Islam Anik after losing Afif Hossain cheaply. Shadman though got out for 33 but Saif brought up his fourth half-century. He carted 51 off 40 with five fours and two sixes at his 73-minute stay at wickets.
Together with Shuvagata Hom, skipper Mohammad Mithun later sailed through the team. Mithun clattered an unbeaten 29 off 22, hitting two sixes and one boundary. Hom was not out three. Tanvir Haider snared two wickets for Sheikh Jamal.
Days other two matches of Gazi Group Cricketers and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club at BKSP Ground-3, while Mohammedan Sporting Club and Prime Bank Cricket Club at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah rolled onto the reserve day owing to the downpours.
Prime Doleshwar, who are fighting for runners-up, won the toss and invited to Gazi Group Cricketers, who managed to score 142 for five in 33 overs largely thanks to Jahurul Islam Omis unbeaten 50. In-form Nasir Hossain, whose rich form of vein clawed back Gazi in title race, missed to sparkle as he fell for three. Mominul Haque and Nadif Chowdhury smashed the identical 38 each. Omi cracked 47-ball 50, clobbering two sixes and four fours.
On the other hand, Mohammedan put into bat first and compiled 187 for six in 43.3 overs with Nazmul Hossain Milon scoring 53.
Shamsur Rahman (34), Rony Talukdar (28), Shykat Ali (24) and Sajedul Islam (22) were the notable scorers of the Motijheel out-fit. Taijul Islam was on 15 not out. Asif Ahmed snapped up two wickets for the Prime Bank.
