Newcomer Rupganj Tigers stun Abahani

Newcomer Rupganj Tigers stun defending champions Abahani Limited in their very first match of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2021-22 on Tuesday as they registered a win over the sky-blues by seven wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Mohammad Naim of Abahani scored a hundred (115) on the opening day but he was overtrumped by Zakir Hasan who scored 117 runs to take the Rupganj Tigers home against the most successful team in the top tier cricket tournament in Bangladesh. The new season of the DPL began on Tuesday, in the other two matches at BKSP; Prime Bank Cricket Club defeated City Club by 50 runs, and Legends of Rupganj beat Gazi Group Cricketers by 147 runs.

Abahani- Rupganj Tigers

Rupganj won the toss and invited Abahani to bat first at SBNCS. Abahani had a very brittle start as they lost their top-order very early in the innings. Munim Shahriar went out for only one, Zaker Ali Anik scored three, foreign recruit Najibullah Zadran got out for only three and Towhid Hridoy was out for seven.

After losing four wickets for 48 runs, Naim and Mosaddek Hossain steadied the ship but they could not accelerate at the latter parts of their innings which affected the team.

Naim scored 115 runs from 132 balls, Mosaddek scored 37 runs from 58 balls and Saif Uddin was unbeaten on 40 from 43 balls. Abahani managed 255-9 in 50 overs, Mukidul Islam Mugdho bagged three wickets.

In reply, the opening pair of Zakir and Mizanur Rahman snatched the game away from the defending champions. Together, Zakir and Mizanur added 166 runs in the opening stand which lasted 25.1 overs.

Mizan got out seven short of his hundred but Zakir picked up his maiden ton in List `A’ Cricket, he scored 117 runs from 116 balls which included 15 boundaries and two sixes. Rupganj Tigers reached home comfortably as they scored 259-3 in 42 overs. Zakir was named player of the match.

Legends of Rupganj vs Gazi Group Cricketers

Legends of Rupganj, a team that narrowly avoided relegation in the previous edition of DPL have made a winning start on Tuesday as they defeated Gazi Group Cricketers by 147 runs.

Gazi won the toss and decided to bowl first, Legends piled up a healthy total of 291-7 in 50 overs thanks to 92 runs from Naeem Islam and 47 runs from Chirag Jani.

Sabbir Rahman also played a cameo of 42 runs from 25 balls.

In reply, Gazi Group Cricketers were all-out for 144 runs in 30.4 overs.

All the seven bowlers used by legends skipper Naeem got at least one wicket, Tanbir Hyder and Sanjit Saha took two each.

Mahmudul Hasan was the top scorer with 33 runs.

Prime Bank-City Club

Prime Bank beat City Club by 50 runs at BKSP on Tuesday.

After losing the toss and batting first, Prime Bank managed to score 265-8 in 50 overs.

Anamul Haque was the highest scorer with 60 runs, Alok Kapali scored
40 runs.

In reply, City Club were all-out for 215 runs in 45.2 overs.

Captain Jawad Royen was the top-scored with 37* runs.

Mahadi Hasan took three wickets.