Arafat's record eight crushes Abahani
Yeasin Arafat created a Dhaka Premier League record by claiming eight wickets in a devastating spell as holders Gazi Group thrashed leaders Abahani by eight wickets in what was a crunch game for them to avoid falling into the dreaded relegation zone.
The six-feet-one-inch right-arm medium pacer from Noakhali, playing only his third List A game, lit up the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah after Gazi won the toss and sent Abahani in. He tore the vaunted Abahani batting line-up apart to finish with eight for 40 from 8.1 overs; the best bowling figures in the league's history, besting left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak's 7 for 17.
His devastating spell saw Abahani bundled out for a paltry 113 in 26.1 overs with wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Mithun (40) and their Indian recruit Manan Sharma (46) providing some sort of resistance. Opener Anamul Haque, with 10, was the only other batsman who reached double-figures.
In reply Gazi raced to 114 for two in 29.5 overs with captain Jahurul Islam hitting an unbeaten 52 and their Pakistani recruit Fawad Alam notching 39 not out.
However, despite the stunning defeat Abahani still enjoy a solo lead in the 12-team table with 14 points from ten games. Legends of Rupganj have a chance to go on par with the leaders provided that they beat Brothers Union at the BKSP in Savar tomorrow.
The fantastic win on the other hand not only pulled Gazi out of the relegation zone, but also gave them a chance to join the Super Six going into the final round of the first leg when they take on Prime Doleshwar at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 18.
Doleshwar are currently breathing down Abahani's neck with 13 points thanks to a fine all-round performance from Zohaib Khan in their three-wicket win against relegation-bound Agrani Bank at the BKSP yesterday.
The left-arm spinner from Pakistan picked up three wickets for 37 runs as Agrani Bank, sent in to bat, scored a below par 203 for seven in their share of 50 overs. The Bankers were reduced to 57 for five against the twin spin attack of Zohaib and off-spinner Sharifullah (three for 35) before a seventh wicket stand of 83 runs between Shamsul Islam (64 not out) and Isamul Ahsan (46) gave the score some respectability.
Zohaib hit 41 down the order as Doleshwar reached 204 for seven to secure the win with more than three overs to spare. Marshall Ayub (42) and Farhad Hossain (49) also continued their good run with the bat at the top of the order.
At Mirpur, Prime Bank served a blow to promotees Shinepukur's pursuit for a Super Six berth with a five-wicket win.
Sent in to bat, Shinepukur posted a fighting 251 with opener Shadman Hossain (44), Indian recruit Uday Kaul (52), and Towhid Hridoy (39) among the runs. Shariful Islam and Monir Hossain took three wickets each for Prime Bank, who raced to 252 for five in 46.4 overs.
Nahidul Islam hit a fine unbeaten 73 off 78 balls that featured six boundaries and a six while hard-hitting Indian batsman Yusuf Pathan, who shared 74 runs for the fifth wicket with Nahidul, chipped in with 32 before Delwar Hossain sealed the easy win with a 20-ball 24.
The result left both Prime Bank and Shinepukur on 10 points each after 10 games.
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