Bowlers continue dominance
Bowlers continued to dictate the terms in the Dhaka Premier League as all three of yesterday's matches were decided by the ball at different venues.
Even though both Jahurul Islam and Imrul Kayes hit hundred-plus scores for Abahani Limited and Gazi Group Cricketers respectively, it was Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who stole the show with a six-wicket haul which guided the Sky Blues to a 29-run win at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar.
Sent in to bat, Jahurul struck a 138-ball 130, featuring 14 fours and two sixes, as Abahani posted 286 for six in 50 overs. However, man-of-the-match Mashrafe was the one to seal the victory by picking up wickets at crucial stages of the game.
Imrul's fighting 118-ball 126, laced with 15 fours and five sixes, kept Gazi in the hunt but Mashrafe eventually removed the left-hander. Mashrafe picked up two wickets in each of his three spells to end with figures of six for 46 from ten overs.
With his fourth six-wicket haul in the List A competition, Mashrafe surpassed Rubel Hossain, who was the previous Bangladeshi to have the most six-wicket hauls to his name.
This was the fifth defeat in seven matches for Gazi, who were bundled out on 257 in 48.4 overs. Meanwhile, Abahani remained on top of the points table with six wins in seven matches.
Earlier, Jahurul and skipper Mosaddek Hossain added 145 runs for the fourth wicket after both Nazmul Hossain and Indian recruit Wasim Jaffer departed cheaply.
At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club clinched a five-wicket win over Khelaghar SKS after posting a measly 183 for nine. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam ended with figures of three for 39 from his ten overs while pacer Khaled Ahmed also bagged three wickets.
This was the fourth win in seven games for Sheikh Jamal while it was the sixth loss in seven outings for Khelaghar.
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, pacer Mohammad Shahid bagged four wickets to guide Legends of Rupganj to a 72-run win over Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club.
Doleshwar were all out on 193 with Pakistani batsman Saad Nasim top scoring for the side with 61.
After being sent to bat, Rupganj batsmen Shahriar Nafees and Akbar Ur Rehman scored sixties while skipper Naeem Islam added an unbeaten 43 to help the side post 265 for nine.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ABAHANI LIMITED VS GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS
ABAHANI: 286 for 6 in 50 overs (Jahurul 130, Mosaddek 71; Nasum 2-47)
GAZI: 257 all-out in 48.4 overs (Imrul 126, Touhid 39; Mashrafe 6-46)
Result: Abahani won by 29 runs
KHELAGHAR SKS VS SHEIKH JAMAL DHANMONDI CLUB
KHELAGHAR: 183 FOR 9 IN 50 overs( Moinul 55, Amit 40; Taijul 3-39, Khaled 3 for 43)
JAMAL:185 for 5 in 42 overs (Imtiaz 47; Tanvir 2-31)
Result: Sheikh Jamal won by 5 wickets
LEGENDS OF RUPGANJ VS PRIME DOLESHWAR SPORTING CLUB
RUPGANJ: 265 for 9 in 50 overs (Nafees 68, Akbar 67; Farhad 4-52)
PRIME: 193 all-out in 46 overs(Nasim 61; Shahid 4-23, Akbar 2-28)
Result: Rupganj won by 72 runs