Abahani ride on Liton show

Liton Das slammed his second hundred of the season as second-placed Abahani posted a 49-run victory over Legends of Rupganj in the 10th-round match of the Dhaka Premier League at BKSP yesterday. Rupganj captain Naeem Islam challenged Abahani with a hundred of his own but the earlier efforts of Liton and his opening partner Shadman Islam proved too much to overcome. A 207-run partnership, the highest opening stand this season, between Liton and Shadman helped Abahani put up 333 runs on the board -- the defending champions' fourth 300-plus score this season.

Dewan Sabbir broke the mammoth partnership by removing Shadman but by that time the batsman had hit seven fours and five sixes in his 85. Liton scored 136 off 101 balls that contained 20 fours and three sixes. Now the leading scorer of the league with 578 runs in nine matches, Liton reached the hundred in 78 balls, one fewer than the last one he made against Mohammedan at BKSP.

It was not an ideal start for Rupganj in chase of such a big total as they lost four wickets for 74 runs. Mosharraf Hossain joined his captain Naeem to repair the damage and shared 101 runs for the fifth wicket but they failed to keep up with the asking run rate.

Naeem, who is following Liton in the run-scorers' list, made 123 off 119 balls with 11 fours and three sixes while Mosharraf added 67 off 75 balls but their efforts went in vain Rupganj finished their 50-over quota on 284 for six to suffer their fifth defeat, thus reducing their chances of qualifying for the super league.

On the other hand Abahani narrowed the gap with leaders Gazi Group by winning their eighth match.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Imtiaz Hossain hit his first hundred this season as Prime Doleshwar outclassed Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by 10 wickets. Imtiaz smashed 10 fours and three sixes during his 99-ball 107 and Abdul Mazid contributed 64 off 101 balls with four boundaries and one six as Doleshwar overtook 178 runs in 33.1 overs to secure their seventh win in 10 matches. 

Earlier left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny continued his good form as he conceded only 14 runs in 8 overs which helped Doleshwar to dismiss their opponents for 178 despite Amit Majumdar's 86-ball 73 that featured six fours and two sixes.

In another match at BKSP, Victoria Sporting Club registered their first win by winning a high-scoring match against Partex Sporting Club.

Irfan Sukkur (95) and Sazzadul Haque (75) added 155 runs for the fourth wicket as Partex posted 298 runs.

In reply, opener Nasiruddin Faruque returned to the pavilion for a first-ball duck but a 144-run second-wicket stand between Rubel Mia, who scored 73 off 68 balls before he retired hurt, and Arun Karthik, who scored 89 off 76 balls with seven fours and two sixes guided Victoria to chase past the big total with three balls to spare.

The late order contributed some valuable runs and Monir Hossain deserves special credit as his unbeaten 15-ball 27 with three fours and a six made it possible for Victoria to taste their first win. 

SCORES IN BRIEF 

ABAHANI: 333 all out in 49.5 overs (Liton 136, Shadman 85, Nazmul 35; Sharif 3-61, Mosharraf 3-30, Mahmudul 2-60)

LEGEND OF RUPGANJ: 284-6 in 50 overs (Naeem 123, Mosharraf 67, Hamidul 37 not out; Jayed 3-44)

Result: Abahani won by 49 runs

Player-of-the-match: Liton Das

KHELAGHAR: 178 all out in 45.3 overs (Amit 73, Randiv 41; Reza 2-37, Sunny 3-14, de Silva 3-29)

PRIME DOLESHWAR:  181-0 in 33.1 overs (Imtiaz 107 not out, Mazid 64 not out)

Result: Prime Doleshwar won by 10 wickets

Player-of-the-match: Imtiaz Hossain

PARTEX: 298-9 in 50 overs (Irfan 95, Sazzadul 75, Rakin 31; Mahbubul 4-65,Monir 3-49)

VICTORIA: 299-8 in 49.3 overs (Rubel 73, Arun Karthik 89, Moinul 33; Mehdi 27, Monir 27 not out; Zakaria 2-58, Imran 4-55)

Result: Victoria Sporting Club won by two wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Arun Karthik