Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led from the front, claiming a five-for while opener Anamul Haque Bijoy hit a century as Abahani Limited sealed its fifth straight victory in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) with a comprehensive 47-run win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club yesterday at BKSP-3 ground.

The victory took Abahani four points clear of the nearest rivals Sheikh Jamal Club and Legends of Rupganj who have now six points in five matches.

Bijoy’s 122 ball-116, including six fours and four sixes steered Abahani to amass 270 for seven after which Mashrafe bagged five for 29 runs to dismiss Jamal for 223 in 45.3 overs.

The Dhanmondi outfit recovered from a poor start, which saw them reeling to a miserable 78 for four , to post a challenging total against its neighbouring club. All of the top four batsmen apart from Bijoy failed to deliver against a spirited Jamal’s bowling. However Bijoy and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat combined for a 121-run for the fifth wicket to pave the platform that eventually proved to be deciding factor of the match.

Saikat helped himself with 49 off 70, hitting two fours. Mehidy Hasan Miraj and Sunzamul Islam then played two whirlwind knocks to keep Abahani in a safe zone. Miraj struck 34 not out off 18 while Sunzamul’s 24 came off just 15 balls.

Robiul Haque with three for 47 was the highest wicket-taker for Jamal. If there was any chance to put up a resistance, Mashrafe quickly dented Jamal’s hope, taking out two openers Saykat Ali and Ziaur Rahman cheaply. Spinners trio—Miraj, Sunzamul and Saqlain Sajib sliced the middle order in an accurate bowling before Mashrafe cleaned up the tail in his second spell.

Nurul Hasan Sohan, the captain of Jamal only could show some fight against a top class bowling, scoring a fighting 83 off just 61 balls, smashing 10 fours and four sixes.

Legends of Rupganj beat Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium by 55 runs to achieve their third victory but they were edged by Sheikh Jamal in terms of net run rate to be placed at third position at the moment.

Riding on half-centuries from Abdul Mazid, Naeem Islam and Mushfiqur Rahim they put up 272 for seven before their bowlers, led by left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel, bundled Prime Doleshwar out for 217 in 47.3 overs. Mosharraf snapped up four for 40.

Abdul Mazid and captain Naeem Islam set up the thing upfront with 78-run partnership for the second wicket after they lost opener Mohammad Naim cheaply.

Mazid made 59 while Naeem Islam was the highest scorer with 78 runs. Mushfiqur Rahim then held together the innings and guided the lower order to help the side post a competitive total. Rahim scored 65 off 67, sending the ball across the rope for eight times.

No one from Prime Doleshwar could hit a half-century with Sharifullah scoring highest with 41 runs.

A methodical batting from the Gazi Group Cricketers batsmen trumped the century of Brothers Union Club’s Indian recruit Debbrata Das as the former sealed a thrilling two-wicket victory against the former at BKSP-4 ground.

Debbrata’s 109 ball-112 not out which included seven fours and six sixes guided Brothers to 273 for five but Gazi Group overhauled the target, making 276 for eight with five balls to spare.

Gazi’s Indian recruit Gurkreet Singh foiled Brothers party, hitting an unbeaten 71 runs.