Abahani another step closer to relegation

Yet another defeat for relegation-threatened Abahani, chaos over leg before decisions and a storm from Sri Lankan Dilshan Munaweera marked Dhaka Premier League's seventh round matches yesterday at different venues across the country.
The umpires gave a total of six lbw decisions against Gazi Tank Cricketers at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium but the officials of this club only protested the decision against New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram that stopped play for 15 minutes in the first innings.
In the end however Gazi Tank's 189 proved good enough for them to condemn Abahani to their sixth defeat in seven games to push them another step downward to the relegation league.
Gazi Tank's 13-run victory helped them to improve their tally to 10 points while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club also secured the same number of points, thanks to Munaweera who cancelled out England batsman Ravi Bopara's 74 to make sure his side register an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Prime Bank at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
Munaweera toyed with the opponent bowlers during his 57-ball 95 that featured 15 fours and three sixes as Sheikh Jamal overtook Prime Bank's 201-run target quite convincingly in 29.5 overs. The Sri Lankan had a 130-run opening stand with Junaed Siddiqui who struck an unbeaten 74.
Prime Bank remained on eight points.
At the BKSP, Sri Lankan Upul Tharanga steered Mohammedan to their fourth victory as the popular Motijheel outfit defeated Victoria by 42 runs. Tharanga smashed six fours and four sixes during his 62-ball 73 as Mohammedan scored 240 runs.
In reply, Victoria were bundled out for 198.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bowled brilliantly to take two wickets.
Victoria stayed on nine points after seven rounds while the winners raised their collection to eight.

GAZI TANK: 189 all out in 49 overs (Imrul 39, Styris 30, Rokibul 42, extras 13; Babu 2-40, Nabil 2-28, Zander 2-39, Al Amin 3-27)
ABAHANI: 176-8 in 49 overs (Kandambi 44, Al Amin 37, extras 7; Oram 3-39, Nayeem 2-41, Shaid 2-39)
Result: Gazi Tank won by 13 runs.
PRIME BANK: 200 all out in 46.4 overs (Bopara 74, Parvez 48 not out, extras 10; Gulbadin 4-31, Munaweera 2-26, Sunny 2-34, Nahidul 2-23)
SHEIKH JAMAL: 203-2 in 29.5 overs (Munaweera 95, Junaed 74 not out, extra 1; Parvez 2-35)
Result: Sk Jamal won by eight wickets.
MOHAMMEDAN: 240 all out in 50 overs (Ezaj 44, Shamsur 44, Tharanga 73, extras 20; Monir 4-50)
VICTORIA: 198 all out in 45.1 overs (Rasel 32, Milinda 43, Soumya 57, extras 11; Mashrafe 2-25, Asela 2-39, Muktar 2-18, Murad 3-26)
Result: MSC won by 42 runs.