Legends ascend, Sky Blues slip
It was a day of low-scoring affairs in the Dhaka Premier League following the previous day's rainfall as Legends of Rupganj climbed to the top of the points table, beating Abahani Limited comprehensively by six wickets yesterday.
In the day's two other matches, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club also registered comfortable wins against Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) and Uttara Sporting Club respectively.
Anticipations of a high-voltage game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur between the two teams at the top of the points table turned out to be unfounded as Abahani were unable to put up any sort of fight against Rupganj and were bundled out for just 122 in 39.1 overs after being asked to bat.
The star-studded Abahani kept losing wickets at regular intervals and at one stage the Sky Blues were reeling on 29 for five inside 12 overs. Skipper Mosaddek Hossain's unbeaten 40 off 88 balls averted the humiliation of being bundled out below three figures, while Mohammad Mithun added 38, but none of the batsmen were able to score significantly.
Right-arm pacer Subhasish Roy bagged three wickets for 37 from eight overs while Mohammad Shahid and Nabil Samad took two wickets each for the bowling side.
Rupganj in reply had no problem whatsoever. Opener Mehedi Maruf struck a fifty to help the chase, which was accomplished with six wickets and 23.1 overs to spare.
With nine wins in 10 games, Rupganj are now on top while Abahani slipped to second position after suffering their second defeat in 10 matches.
At the BKSP-4 ground, the home side were all out for 161 in 42.1 overs after being asked to bat first. Jamal's spin trio of Nasir Hossain, Elias Sunny and Taijul Islam shared eight wickets between themselves.
Skipper Akbar Ali's 43 was the highest score for BKSP as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Nasir and Sunny bagged three while another left-arm spinner Taijul took two wickets.
Jamal eventually registered their fifth win in 10 games as they reached the target for the loss of five wickets in 35.2 overs. Indian recruit Anustup Majumdar top scored with 43 runs. BKSP, on the other hand, faced their eighth defeat in 10 games.
Pakistani leg spinner Saad Nasim's four-wicket haul helped Prime Doleshwar bundle out Uttara on 160 and register a comfortable five-wicket win at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
Minhajul Abedin's 36 was the only notable performance with the bat for Uttara where apart from Nasim's four wickets, Mahmudul Hasan also bagged two wickets for the bowling side.
Doleshwar in reply rode on half-centuries from Farhad Hossain and Marshal Ayub to reach the target in 38.1 overs to seal their seventh win in 10 games. Newcomers Uttara are struggling at the bottom of the points table with two wins in 10 matches.
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