Mehedi fires Rupganj's charge

Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity could not register their second victory in this edition of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) as Legends of Rupganj rode on Mehedi Maruf's brilliant century -- the only one of the day -- to chase down a challenging 264 for three and win by five wickets at the BKSP-3 ground yesterday.

In the other game, Asela Gunaratne's all-round performance ensured Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club's comfortable 43-run victory over Gazi Group Cricketers at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

At BKSP-3, opener Robiul Islam Robi scored a sensible 87-ball 53 to give Khelaghar a steady start after they were asked to bat first. However, the highlight of Khelaghar's innings was the 131-run third-wicket partnership between Mahidul Islam Ankon and Ashok Menaria. Although Mahidul fell prey to a Subhasish Roy delivery in the 47th over after scoring 77 runs off 99 balls, Menaria remained unbeaten on a 79-ball 87 to ensure a challenging total.

After the exchange, Rupganj got off to a splendid start as their openers Mehedi and Mohammad Naim strung together a 118-run partnership, setting the tone for the successful chase of the challenging total before Naim was dismissed for 72 off 73 balls. However, Mehedi went on to notch a brilliant 134-ball 108 before being trapped in front by Masum Khan in the 46th over. By then, on 239 for four in the 46th over, the fate of the match was all but sealed and Rupganj went on to register their fifth victory of the season.

In Fatullah, it was a 121-run fifth-wicket stand between skipper Nurul Hasan and Gunaratne that helped Sheikh Jamal post a challenging 277 for six. Although Gunaratne was dismissed in the penultimate over after a fluent 65-ball 79-run knock, Nurul remained unbeaten for his run-a-ball 81 to ensure Sheikh Jamal finish on a high.

In chase, Gazi Group never looked on course for the stiff total as they suffered a top-order collapse and were reeling on 104 for six in 24 overs. However, Shamsur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan's 89-run seventh-wicket partnership raised some hope for Gazi Group. But it was once again Gunaratne who came to the rescue -- this time with the ball -- as the Sri Lankan first picked up Shamsur for 81 to break the threatening partnership and later went on to scalp the wicket of the dangerous-looking Mahedi on 60 to wrap it up for Sheikh Jamal.