Liton Kumar’s career best List-A performance engineered for Abahani Limited to whack past Legends of Rupganj by 49 runs in the high-scoring round-10 encounter of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Prothisthan (BKSP) Ground-4 yesterday.
With the victory reigning champions, Abahani, remained second place in the points table with 16 points off 10 matches. They closely followed league leaders Gazi Group Cricketers, who are yet to concede any defeat and are in pole position with 18 points.
Abahani’s captain Mohammad Mithun opted to bat first after winning the toss on the batting paradise of BKSP and amassed a comprehensive 333 for all-out in 49.5 overs largely thanks to Liton Kumar’s 136, after which Legends of Rupganj managed to muster 248 for six in 50 overs despite Naeem Islam’s 123.
A 207-run opening stand of Liton Kumar Das and Shadman Islam gave Abahani Limited a flying start. Liton brought up his fifty off 38 balls and then took 78 deliveries to complete his century. This is Liton’s fifth but second century in the ongoing league.
Shadman Islam missed his second List-A century for 15 runs. The young opener clattered five sixes and seven fours in his 83-ball 85 before being caught behind.
Liton then tried to build up another big partnership with in-form Nazmul Hossain Shanto but his effort was halted by Hasanuzzaman when he fell into caught off Mohammad Sharif.
The left-handed opener clouted 136 off 101 that embellished with 20 fours and three fours during his 142-minute stay at wickets. Later Liton was adjudged player of the match.
Later Abahani of course could not maintain their rhythm after the departures of Shadman and Liton as they put on 99 runs at the cost of nine eight wickets. Shanto (35), Shuvagata Hom (23), Manan Sharma (19), Mohammad Mithun (16) and Saif Hassan (12) were the other contributors of Abahani.
Mohammad Sharif and Mosharraf Hossain Rubel snapped up three wickets each, while Mahmudul Hasan picked up two wickets for Rupganj.
Chasing the healthy target of 334, Legends of Rupganj lost three wickets inside eight overs. Raza Ali Dar increased the fuss further while Rupganj were stuttering at 74-4.
Skipper Naeem Islam came in to rescue the team from the precarious position and stitched together a couple of helpful partnership en route to his 123. He added 101 runs with Mosharraf Hossain for the fifth wicket and another 100 runs with Hamidul Islam for the sixth wicket stand.
Naeem clubbed 11 fours and three fours in his 119-ball 123 before being dismissed. Rubel slammed 67 off 75, clobbering five boundaries and two sixes. Hamidul was not out on 37, while Sharif was on seven not out.
Paceman Abu Jayed Rahi was the most successful bowler, who grabbed three wickets.