Nurul credits team environment after maiden DPL title
Nurul Hasan Sohan raised his bat after scoring the winning runs with a nicely-timed aerial shot through long-off. Nurul was beaming with confidence, his heroic knock under pressure was evidence of his ability to take on pressure situations. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi had been able to get the edge over opponents during tight games this season and team effort counted as they clinched their first Dhaka Premier League title since the tournament gained List A status.
Abahani's top-order did not click as much as they would have liked before a late onslaught from Jaker Ali (47*) and Mohammad Saifuddin (44*) saw them reach 229 for six. Sheikh Jamal needed to win this match in order to seize the title yesterday and escape a do-or-die last match against Legends of Rupganj. But when experienced batters such as Imrul Kayes and Mushfiqur departed cheaply, they found themselves at 78 for five. From that point on, Nurul stitched together a 72-run sixth-wicket stand first with Parvez Rasool to bring his side back into the game before an 82-run seventh-wicket stand off just 52 deliveries with Ziaur Rahman clinched the game and the title.
Nurul's form in the Super League has been dreamlike with scores of 72, 132 not out, 71 before he got his side out of a tough situation against Abahani yesterday with a dazzling 81.
Nurul picked his zones well, showing good authority in his power-hitting skills and this time he made it count. "We were very confident. Playing for Sheikh Jamal for five years now and credit to the dressing room environment, which was created through the toil and suffering of the last few years. Building a side and the environment takes time and I think we have one of the best dressing room environments in domestic cricket. I was very confident this time and since an opportunity came, I wanted to do something for the team," Nurul said.
His form may also help his cause with the national team in need of someone who can play big shots at the death. "It's important to build on this and make a habit of playing such knocks here and I will try to improve my game day by day."
Legends of Rupganj blew aside Gazi Group with a massive 196-run victory at BKSP. Sabbir Rahman struck an 83-ball 90 before Shakib Al Hasan raised a storm with the third-fastest DPL fifty off 21 deliveries during a 26-ball 59 as Rupganj reached 293 for nine. Chirag Jani got a fifer as Gazi were skittled out for just 97. Prime Bank sealed an easy win in the other match at BKSP, defeating Rupganj Tigers by 10 wickets with openers Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque remaining unbeaten on 109 and 112 respectively.
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