Abahani suffer stinging defeat

Prime Doleshwar pull off a thrilling three-run win against leaders Abahani in a Dhaka Premier League game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Abahani needed 10 runs from the last six deliveries to topple Prime Doleshwar's 232-9. Ariful Islam, who along with Mohammad Mithun took the game to the wire, scored six runs off the first three deliveries including a boundary off the second ball from left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who however had the last laugh by having Ariful (21 off 16 balls) caught off the penultimate delivery with Abahani needing four runs to stage a remarkable turnaround. It was Abahani's second defeat in nine games. But they still lead the 12-team table with 14 points.

Sunny finished with 3-15. However, it was experienced right-arm medium pacer Forhad Reza who fashioned the exciting victory with an all-round show. He dismissed a menacingly poised wicketkeeper-batsman Mithun in the penultimate over, reducing Abahani at 219-9. Mithum hit a run-a-ball 60 before being bowled by Forhad, who finished with 3 for 42 in his ten overs. Forhad also scored a vital 28 off 26 balls in Doleshwar's fighting total which was built around half centuries from one-down Fazle Mahmud (68) and Farhad Hossain (63).

With this win Doleshwar moved to the second position behind Abahani with 11 points.