Rupganj consolidate lead
A fine all-round performance from Legends of Rupganj helped them extend their lead at the top of the Super League table, while Tamim Iqbal's Abahani hopped to second place in the Dhaka Premier League yesterday.
Rupganj defeated Prime Bank Cricket Club by five wickets at the BKSP in Savar and Abahani defeated Mominul Haque's Victoria Sporting Club by six wickets in Mirpur.
Nasir Hossain's Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club were the day's third winning team as they thumped Mushfiqur Rahim's Mohammedan by seven wickets and moved to the fourth spot.
As a result of yesterday's outcomes, Mohammedan and Prime Bank Cricket Club are out of the championship race. They each have 14 points from 14 games and with two more rounds to go, there is no scenario which will see them finish on top of the league.
At the moment, Rupganj are on top with 20 points, with Abahani two points behind. Victoria are third with 17 points and Prime Doleshwar have 16 and are fourth.
However, both Doleshwar and Abahani have a game in hand as a match between the two clubs was postponed after the umpires decided against officiating the match. The future of that game is still uncertain.
At the BKSP, Nurul Hasan was the only Prime Bank batsman who looked in fine touch. He scored a sublime 75 and led his side to 222 for 8. However, that score wasn't enough as Rupganj raced home in 46.5 overs. The fact that Rupganj play as a team, rather than depend on just one player, was proven yesterday as well. Four batsmen stitched together the chase yesterday. While Nahidul Islam scored 64, Asif Ahmed and Mohammad Mithun contributed with vital half-centuries. Even Soumya Sarkar played well, scoring a 46-ball 47.
With the ball, Pawan Negi was the key wicket-taker for Rupganj, finishing with figures of 2 for 30.
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Abahani put in a near-flawless performance to beat Victoria. Mominul's side crumbled with the bat and were bundled out for just 139 in 36.2 overs. Abahani's bowlers, Shakib Al Hasan, Saqlain Sajib and Taskin Ahmed took three wickets each to wrap up Victoria's innings.
After the exchange, a calm, unbeaten 32 from Dinesh Kartik and a good start provided by Tamim, who scored 33, ensured that there were no hiccups in the chase as they reached home by six wickets.
Victoria's spinners Chaturanga De Silva and Anamul Haq did bowl well though, scalping two wickets each.
A good allround performance from Prime Doleshwar led them to their first win of the Super League. They were a bit unlucky in their first two games, with the first match being called off by the umpires and the second being affected by the rains. However, nothing interrupted them yesterday.
Batting first, Mohammedan were bundled out for 213. Rahatul Ferdous and Nasir Hossain were the leading wicket-takers, scalping two each.
After the exchange, Rakibul Hasan and Nasir scored unbeaten half-centuries to seal the game with two overs to spare. While Rakibul scored 86, Nasir posted 52.
SCORES IN BRIEF
VICTORIA: 139 all out in 36.2 overs (Mominul 23, Sohrawadi 21; Saqlain 3-13, Shakib 3-28, Taskin 3-30)
ABAHANI: 140 for 4 in in 29.2 overs (Tamim 33, Karthik 32 not out; De Silva 2-32, Anamul 2-32)
Result: Abahani won by six wickets.
PRIME BANK: 222 for 8 (Nurul 75, Taibur 35; Negi 2-30, Alauddin 1-26)
LEGENDS OF RUPGANJ: 225 for 5 in 46.5 overs (Nahidul 64, Asif 51, Mithun 50, Soumya 47; Shuvagata 2-22, Nazmul 1-43)
Result: Legends of Rupganj won by five wickets.
MOHAMMEDAN: 213 all out in 49 overs (Saikat 51, Ariful 48; Rahatul 2-32, Nasir 2-38, Al-Amin 1-40)
PRIME DOLESHWAR: 214 for 3 in 48 overs (Rakibul 86 not out, Nasir 52 not out; Faisal 1-24, Habibur 1-39, Enamul 1-47)
Result: Prime Doleshwar won by seven wickets.
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