Munim, Liton help Abahani go top

A solid opening stand between Munim Shahriar and Liton Das helped Abahani Limited chase down Prime Doleshwar's mediocre total and seal a seven-wicket victory via D/L method in a curtailed over game in the Super League stage of the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 League in Mirpur today. 

The win also saw Abahani climb to the top of the league standings with equal 22 points from 14 games like Prime Bank but edging them on net run-rate. 

Despite a positive start, Doleshwar could only manage 135 for six in 20 overs after electing to bat. The target, however, was reduced to 91 from 13 overs after rain interrupted proceedings and Abahani, who are missing their skipper Mushfiqur Rahim due to a hand injury, chased down the revised target with seven balls to spare.

Chasing a subpar total, Abahani got off to a bright start, scoring 36 without loss in five overs before rain halted proceedings. Both Liton and Munim picked up from where they had left after resumption as the duo stitched together a 66-run opening stand, setting the tone for victory. 

While Liton was a bit watchful during his 25-ball 27, Munim showed more aggression as he played a 44-run knock laced with five boundaries. Liton was the first one to fall, courtesy of an outstanding diving catch in the outfield by Rejaur Rahman. Munim, however, gave an easy return catch to Sharifullah in the 10th over. 

But the fate of the game had been sealed by that point as the Sky Blues registered 11th win in the competition.   

Earlier, electing to bat, opener Saif Hassan gave Doleshwar an electrifying start. The youngster looked to be in a fine rhythm, smashing four boundaries, but failed to convert his impressive start to something meaningful. He was caught off an Arafat Sunny delivery in the fourth over after a 14-ball 20.

Things only went downhill from that point onwards for Doleshwar. While a slow Mirpur pitch was already making it difficult for batsmen to score quick runs, the likes of pacers Mehedi Hasan Rana and Mohammad Saifuddin made it even more difficult for batsmen as they bowled with guile and precision.

Doleshwar batsmen failed to show urgency and a sluggish 32 off 41 deliveries from Fazle Mahmud and a run-a-ball 31 from Imranuzzaman would only mean that Doleshwar ended up with a sub-par total despite a 7-ball 19-run cameo from skipper Forhad Reza at the death.  

Left-arm pacer Mehedi in particular was very impressive, beating and restricting Doleshwar batsmen with clever change of pace and cutters every now and then. Mehedi was rewarded for his efforts, finishing with miserly figures of two for 17 in his four overs. 

Saifuddin also bowled economically. The all-rounder scalped three for 27 in his four overs.