Abahani take top spot

Abahani players celebrate after taking over the top spot of the Dhaka Premier League yesterday. They beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by 33 runs at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium in a crucial battle between the table toppers. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

Abahani Limited will go into the super six round of the Dhaka Premier League as league leaders as they beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by 33 runs in a low-scoring encounter at Fatullah yesterday. Prime Bank, on their part, will begin the super six round in the second spot. Both the teams though have 18 points each. The other teams joining the top two are Kalabagan Cricket Academy, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, Legends of Rupganj and Mohammedan Sporting Club, all of who have 14 points each.

In the day's other games, a half-century from Marshall Ayub saw Victoria Sporting Club beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy by 48 runs at the BKSP while Brothers Union beat Old DOHS by 93 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium. Old DOHS lost eleven consecutive matches and will now battle Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Partex Sporting Club in the relegation round.
The battle between the top two sides promised to be a tensed encounter and it did not disappoint. Batting first Abahani, led by opener Abdul Majid's 58 posted 169. They were rattled by Taskin Ahmed and Forhad Reza, both of who took three wickets each. At the face of it, the total looked below-par, however, Prime Bank suffered a similar collapse and ended up getting bundled out for 136 in 39.2 overs. Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad was the only player to provide resistance as he scored a gritty 51. However, that was not enough to prevent Abahani from taking the number one spot.
At the BKSP, Marshall's 54 helped Victoria post 237 after they were put into bat. Third-placed Kalabagan CA crumbled under pressure and eventually got bundled out for 189. Bowlers Saqlain Sajib and Mohammad Al-Amin, who took six wickets between were the chief destroyers. While the win helped Victoria finish on level with the four teams above them, in terms of points, they finished seventh due to a poorer head-to-head record.
Brothers finished their campaign this season at number eight. They posted 195 in their last game. In reply, Old DOHS were bowled out for a 102 in 36.3 overs.

SCORES IN BRIEF
VICTORIA SC: 237 for 6 in 47 overs (Marshall 54, Enamul 44; Mehedi 2-25)
KALABAGAN CA: 189 all out in 44 overs(Nafees 48;Kamrul 3-37,Abu 3-44)
Result: Victoria SC won by 48 runs.
ABAHANI: 169 all out in 41.1 overs (Abdul 58; Taskin 3-29,Forhad 3-30)
PRIME BANK CC: 136 all out in 39.2 overs ( Mahmudullah 51; Saqlain 3-15, Mohd Al-Amin 3-25)
Result: Abahani won by 33 runs.
BROTHERS: 195 all out in 49.4 overs (Ahmed 42; Raihan 4-38, Abu 3-40)
OLD DOHS SC: 102 all out in 36.3 overs (Raihan 28; Shahajada 3-22)
Result: Brothers won by 93 runs.