Abahani win hands Gazi title

Rain played foul in one of the BKSP grounds, but in another ground of the sports institute, the curtailed-over match was completed via the Duckworth-Lewis method as Abahani won against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to confirm Gazi Group Cricketers ascension to the Dhaka Premier Cricket League title yesterday.

The rain took Gazi's battle against Prime Doleshwar to a reserve day today, with the former scoring 142 for five at BKSP-3, but Abahani posted a six-wicket victory over Sheikh Jamal riding on Afif Hossain's five-wicket haul with a hattrick at BKSP-4 ground to confirm Gazi's title. Gazi Group and Abahani now both have 24 points and if Prime Doleshwar win today they will have the same number, but Gazi has advantage in the head-to-head stakes. According to the bylaws, if the team with the most number of wins over the other team(s) who are equal on points and have the same number of wins (head-to-head) and Gazi already have three wins out of six among the three teams.

The other final round match between Prime Bank Cricket Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club will also be settled today as the match went to the reserve day after rain stopped the proceeding with Prime Bank making 187 for six.

At BKSP, Sheikh Jamal scored 162 for seven in 30.4 overs before rain interrupted the match and when play resumed Abahani required 124 runs to score in 20 oversn and the defending champions reached the target in 17.2 overs with six wickets in hand.  

SCORES IN BRIEF 

SK. JAMAL: 162-7 in 30.4 overs (Mahabubul 60, Al Mamun 36, Fazle Rabbi 34; Afif 5-32)

ABAHANI: 124-4 in 17.2 overs (Target 124 in 20 overs) (Saif 51, Sadman 33, Mithun 29 not out; Tanvir 2-14)

Result: Abahani won by six wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Afif Hossain

GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS: 142-5 in 33 overs (Jahurul 50 not out, Mominul 38, Nadif 38; Forhad Reza 2-17)

Prime Bank: 187-6 in 43.3 overs (Nazmul 53, Shamsur 34, Rony 28; Asif 2-19)