Defending champions Abahani Limited climbed to the pole position when they flattened  Mohammedan Sporting Club by five wickets in the low-scoring second round of the Super League of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) at the BKSP-3 yesterday.All-rounder Nasir Hossain’s dazzling century steered Gazi Group Cricketers to claw back in competition race when they mauled Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 177 runs at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.Elsewhere at BKSP-4, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club thrashed Prime Bank Cricket Club by six wickets.
Abahani vs Mohammedan Mohammedan Sporting Club opted to bat first after winning to toss on BKSP’s batting paradise track but their decision finally proved to be wrong when
they were rolled over for paltry 100 in 33.4 overs.It is left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib, who launched the attack first in Mohammedan’s fortress when he removed three top-order batsmen on the trot- Shamsur Rahman Shuvo (23), Rony Talukdar (10) and Shykat Ali- in the space of just four runs while Mohammedan were stuttering at 35 for 3.Sajib finished his bowling figure with 3-24 and was named player of the match for his stellar performance.
Pacer Abu Jayed Rahi therefore wrecked the further damage when he got rid of Zabid Hossain and Bipul Sharma that left the Black and White sprawling at 42 for six.
Together with Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain Milon attempted to rebuild the innings by addressing the batting debacle but Manan Sharma unsettled them again as he scythed down the lower-order batsmen. Manan picked up four wickets for 21, whilst Rahi snapped up two wickets for the winners.In reply, in-form Liton Kumar Das and Sadman Islam Anik got Abahani Limited to a solid start when they hit 61 runs for the opening stand. Liton brought up his fifth half- century before getting out. The opener clubbed five sixes and four fours in his 22-ball fifty-run knock.Following the dismissals of skipper Mohammad Mithun and Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mohammedan bowlers sent back Afif Hossain and Kazi Anik for three-ball ducks.Later Sadman Islam in association with Shuvagata Hom slotted the team home in 15.3 overs. Shadman was unbeaten on 24, while Shuvagata was on six not out.
Leg-spinner Jubair Hossain Likhon and Shamsur Rahman grabbed two wickets each for the losing side.Gazi Group vs Sheikh Jamal Put in to bat, Gazi Group Cricketers lost their opener Anamul Haque cheaply but Mominul Haque and Munim Shahriar hit 74 runs for the second wicket. Munim fell for 35.Then the experienced spinning duo Elias Sunny and Sohag Gazi removed well-set Mominul Haque coupled with Jahurul Islam. Mominul put up his second fifty-plus runs before being dismissed. He clattered half-a-dozen boundary and one six in his 61-ball 66.At this stage, captain Nasir Hossain came in to bat and struck a couple of successful partnerships that propelled Gazi towards the staggering total of 350 on the scoresheet.Of them, he smashed 147-run with Gurkeerat Singh for the fifth wicket stand and 144 runs with Suhrawardi Shuvo for the fifth wicket that crossed the 300-run mark.
Nasir slammed his third century in the league that embellished with six sixes along with seven fours before being retired hurt. Gurkeerat Singh made 74 off 60, hitting nine fours.Chasing the massive total, Sheikh Jamal were restricted to 173 in 38.1 overs in the face of paceman Abu Haider Rony’s devastating bowling onslaught.  Rony bagged six wickets for 35. Ziaur Rahman topscored for Jamal with 46. Prashant Chopra (37), Abdullah Al Mamun (25), Rajin Saleh (25) were the notable contributors of the losing side.Doleshwar vs Prime Bank Prime Bank Cricket Club managed to put on 241 in 50 overs courtesy of half-centuries from Abhimanyu Easwaran and Asif Ahmed. Easwaran clobbered 71 off 93 with five fours and one six. Asif hammered three fours and one six in his 71-ball 62.Rajat Bhatia took three, while Arafat Sunny captured two wickets for the winners.
In reply, Prime Doleshwar overhauled the target with six wickets and eight balls to spare. Marshall Ayub cracked 84 and Shahriar Nafees struck 78. Rajat Bhatia was unbeaten on 23, while Farhad Reza was on 11 not out.