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Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club brought an end to Abahani Limited’s eight-match winning streak in the Dhaka Premier League as they won by four wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Monday.
League leaders Abahani had been unbeaten throughout the season, winning all eight of their games till Monday. However, when they met second-placed Sheikh Jamal DC, who had been trailing the leaders by two points, they tasted defeat for the first time.
Despite the loss, Abahani still top the points table with a better net run rate as their NRR is +1.746, while Sheikh Jamal DC’s NRR is +1.043, which puts them at second.
Abahani skipper Mosaddek Hossain opted to bat first and Abahani started their innings with an attacking mindset as they scored 106-2 in 20 overs. Jaker Ali was playing solid and their innings seemed to be going well till the 27th over when Sheikh Jamal’s Arif Ahmed took two wickets in the over, dismissing Najmul Hossain Shanto and Afif Hossain.
Abahani could not fight back from there as they lost wickets in a regular interval and ended their innings on 250-9 as Jaker Ali top-scored with 79.
For Sheikh Jamal, Arif took three wickets while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, who was called up to the national team squad for the first time on Sunday, picked two wickets, including the wicket of Anamul Haque, who has been the highest run-scorer this season. Ebadot Hossain and Taibur Rahman shared three wickets between them.
In reply, Sheikh Jamal reached the target with four wickets and five balls to spare depending on Towhid Hridoy’s 72 and Taibur’s 63.
For Abahani, Rakibul Hasan and Danish Aziz took two wickets apiece while skipper Mosaddek and Afif bagged one each.
Taibur was named the Player of the Match for this all-round performance.
Legends of Rupganj ease past Prime Bank
At BKSP-4 Ground in Savar, Legends of Rupganj beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by five wickets to consolidate third place in the league table. Legends of Rupganj now trail second-placed Sheikh Jamal by two points only.
In their match, Legends of Rupganj opted to field first after winning the toss and bowled out Prime Bank for 128 runs within 36.2 overs.
Nasir Hossain scored 31, the highest of the Prime Bank innings, while Yasir Ali Chowdhury scored 28.
Rupganj’s Abdul Halim picked up three wickets while skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shohag Gazi picked up two wickets each.
In reply, Legends of Rupganj reached the target within 24.4 overs with five wickets in hand, depending on Fardeen Hasan’s 47 and Irfan Sukkur’s 34.
For Prime Bank, Mahadi Hasan and Rejaur Rahman took two wickets each while Nasir Hossain took the other.
Agrani Bank find win
In the other match of the day at BKSP-3 Ground, Agrani Bank Cricket Club beat Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club by six wickets to finally return to winning ways after four consecutive losses.
With the loss, Rupganj Tigers lost their chances to move up to the fifth position in the points table ahead of Gazi Group Cricketers, who are currently fifth position with seven points from nine matches.
Rupganj Tigers decided to bat first winning the toss and put a total of 248-7, courtesy of opener Imranuzzaman’s 67 and skipper Naeem Islam’s 61. Their Indian recruit Ankit Bawne scored 56.
For Agrani Bank, Anamul Haque took three wickets while Abu Haider took two.
In reply, Agrani Bank reached the target with 6 wickets and 23 balls to spare depending on skipper Marshal Ayub’s 95 and opener Shadman Islam’s 93.
For Rupganj Tigers, Nasum Ahmed, Nayeem Hasan, and Shamim Hossain each picked up a wicket.
