Abahani clinch 18th crown
The Dhaka Premier League 2016 may have been sullied by off-field issues, but it ended with a fittingly dominant display by the team who lifted the trophy for a record 18th time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Abahani, after a troubled beginning that saw them make it to the Super League in fourth position after the first phase, went from strength to strength till a sublime century from skipper Tamim Iqbal, yet another special half-century from Mosaddek Hossain and a stellar seven-wicket haul by Saqlain Sajib set up a 115-run win over defending champions Prime Bank Cricket Club in the last round of the Super League.
Prime Doleshwar did all they could to keep their title hopes alive by beating the third team in contention, Legends of Rupganj, by seven wickets at the BKSP. But Abahani's dominant show means that they sit on 22 points while Rupganj and Doleshwar have 20 each.
Abahani had no hesitation in batting when the coin landed in their favour and made full use of a Mirpur belter by racking up 316 for seven. Tamim and Mosaddek came together at 97 for three in the 23rd over, and were not separated till 173 runs and 21.1 overs later when Tamim was caught by Raihan Uddin off the bowling of Unmukt Chand for a 132-ball 142. He hit 11 fours and four maximums in his second hundred of the season. Mosaddek, carrying on his purple patch, fell soon after for a 74-ball 78 with three fours and five sixes. But with momentum firmly with Abahani, lusty blows from Abul Hassan took them past the 300 mark.
For Prime Bank, Indian import Chand took three for 59.
In reply, Prime Bank were shot out for 201 with Saqlain's seven-wicket haul playing the starring role.
At BKSP, a four-wicket haul from Doleshwar's Rahatul Ferdous and Al-Amin Hossain's three wickets helped dismiss Rupganj for 143, despite a courageous unbeaten 59 from Asif Ahmed.
Opener Rakibul Hasan then hit an unbeaten 66 to take Doleshwar home with seven wickets and 24.1 overs to spare.
The day's third match in Fatullah was an inconsequential one between title no-hopers Victoria and Mohammedan. Victoria won the low-scoring encounter by 17 runs after scoring 205 in the first innings.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ABAHANI: 316 for 7 in 50 overs (Tamim 142, Karthik 25, Mosaddek 78, Hasan 26; Unmukt 3-59, Rubel 2-69, Nazmul 2-48)
PRIME BANK: Club 201 all out in 37.2 overs (Mehedi 69, Unmukt 23, Shuvagata 51; Taskin 2-45, Saqlain 7-58)
Result: Abahani won by 115 runs.
LEGENDS OF RUPGANJ: 143 all out in 41.2 overs (Asif 59, Pawan 16; Al-Amin 3-29, Rahatul 4-36)
PRIME DOLESHWAR: 144 for 3 in 25.5 overs (Raqibul 66, Rony 42, Sachin 23; Alauddin 1-22)
Result: Prime Doleshwar won by 7 wickets.
VICTORIA: 205 all out in 48.3 overs (Mominul 58, Al-Amin 55, Nadif 28, Kamrul 26 not out; Enamul 3-45, Habibur 2-28)
MOHAMMEDAN: 188 all out in 42 overs (Nazimuddin 50, Shykat 35, Mushfiqur 46; Mominul 3-29, Mahmud 2-25)
Result: Victoria Sporting Club won by 17 runs.
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