Abahani Limited beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by eight runs in their final match of the Super League to win the Dhaka Premier League three times in a row.
Despite Alok Kapali’s best efforts with an innings of 34 off 17 deliveries, Prime Bank failed to chase down their target of 151 as Abahani bowlers held on to their nerves.
Abahani all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was adjudged man of the match for his 13-ball cameo of 21and four wickets.
This win means that Abahani have ended their DPL campaign with 24 points from 16 matches whilst Prime Bank ended with 22.
Abahani skipper Mosaddek Hossain won the toss and decided to bat first in the league-deciding match. But his team faced troubled straightaway as Mustafizur Rahman and Rubel Hossain removed both the openers before Prime Bank skipper Anamul Haque sent Liton Das packing with a brilliant catch off Nahidul Islam.
But then came the rebuilding as Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mosaddek built a partnership of 70 runs to lay the foundation of their innings.
Rubel Mia removed Shanto for 45 before Mosaddek was sent back for 40 by Rubel in the 19th over.
But courtesy of a cameo from Saifuddin ensured that Abahani reached a total of 150.
Rubel Hossain’s two wickets were accompanied by one strike from Mustafiz, Nahidul, Rubel Mia and Shoriful Islam each.
In reply, none of the Prime Bank batsman but Rubel Mia could work his way through the innings as Saifuddin and Mehedi Hasan Rana shared four wickets to reduce them to five for 66 by the 11th over.
After Rubel Mia was sent back for 41 by youngster Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Kapali started to smash the ball around to keep Prime Bank in the match.
But with 32 required from the last two overs, Kapali only managed to take Prime Bank to 142, ensuring an eight-run win for Abahani.
Besides Saifuddin’s four wickets, Rana picked up two wickets with Sakib and Arafat Sunny picking up a wicket each.
With Abahani and Prime Bank in the top two spots, Prime Doleshwar finished third whilst Mohammedan SC ended up at the bottom of the Super League.
