Home ›› 14 Apr 2023 ›› Sport
Abahani Limited managed to hold on to their top spot in the ongoing 2023 Dhaka Premier League season as they beat Agrani Bank Cricket Club by nine runs in a close affair at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj on Thursday.
Abahani currently have 16 points, equal to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club but are ahead on net run rate.
Batting first, Abahani were bowled out for 267, courtesy of Mohammad Naim’s 79 and skipper Mosaddek Hossain’s 52.
In reply, opener Azmir Ahmed’s 60, and then a couple of more fifties from Mohammad Elias and skipper Marshall Ayub saw Agrani Bank reduce the target to 20 runs from two overs, with the latter at the crease with Abu Hider Rony.
However, a brilliant penultimate over from Mohammad Saif Uddin produced only four runs, meaning Agrani Bank required 16 runs off the last over bowled by left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam.
Tanvir proved to be excellent as he produced four yorkers to restrict the Agrani Bank batters from scoring more than six, thus bringing home the two points.
Earlier, Agrani Bank skipper Ayub won the toss and sent Abahani to bat first and once again, the Sky-Blues’ opening pair of Anamul Haque (28) and Naim brought them 73 runs for the opening stand.
The Player of the Match, Naim, went on to pick up his seventh fifty of this edition but failed to convert it to his second century, and Mosaddek’s fifty alongside contributions from Afif Hossain (31), Saif (33), and Jaker Ali Anik (27) saw Abahani post 267.
Then, Agrani Bank’s slowish start cost them the game as they managed only 189-5 in 40 overs, leaving them with 79 to take in the last 10, which they could not.
Towhid takes Sk Jamal to win
An unbeaten 98 from youngster Towhid Hridoy saw Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by seven wickets at BKSP and keep up the pressure on Abahani.
Batting first, Prime Bank were bowled out for 244 with only Mushfiqur Rahim going past fifty as he scored 77.
For Sheikh Jamal, Ebadot Hossain was the star of the show with the ball as he picked up four wickets.
In reply, Sheikh Jamal were handed a good start by Saif Hassan (70) and despite a couple of quick wickets, Towhid’s 98 and then skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan’s unbeaten 44 took them home with 20 balls in hand.
Towhid had the chance to reach triple figures as he was on 94 with one run required and Rejaur Rahman Raja offered him a full toss but he could only send it for a four to miss out on a deserved ton.
Legends of Rupganj seal one-run win
Legends of Rupganj managed a nerve-wracking win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka as they beat Dhaka Leopards by one run.
Batting first, Legends of Rupganj managed to put 268-8 on the board, courtesy of fifties from Parvez Hossain Emon (52), Sabbir Rahman (54), and Chirag Jani (59*).
In reply, Leopards were eyeing the win with Umar Amin’s century, who ended up staying unbeaten on 128.
That ton took the Leopards to require 14 runs off the last two overs, with Rupganj skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bowling the penultimate one and they managed to take seven off that.
Jani, who has been Rupganj’s star performer this season, came up to bowl the final over, and his first five balls produced five runs, reducing the equation to two off the final ball for Leopards.
However, a throw from Emon at cover caught Sohrawardi Shuvo short at the non-striker’s end, meaning Leopards hearts were broken as they suffered a one-wicket defeat.
Jani was awarded the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance.
