Tail-enders make the difference in thrillers

Ripon Mondol was the star of the show for Shinepukur Cricket Club as they clinched a nail-biting Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match against Rupganj Tigers with one wicket and two balls to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Ripon starred with the ball, picking up three wickets for 30 runs while Alauddin Babu, Hasan Murad and Sikandar Raza bagged two each. Losing wickets throughout the innings, Fazle Mahmud's 52 saw Rupganj Tigers reach a fighting score of 172 before being bowled out.

After the exchange, Shinepukur fell under the spell of spinners Nasum Ahmed and Aparajith Baba and slumped to 37 for five. Nasum picked up both openers Avishek Mitra and Anisul Islam for naught in the very first over before scalping Mahidul Islam in his next over.

A 55-run sixth-wicket stand between Raza and Rahutul Ferdous revived their chase and when Raza fell for 48 after Aparajith accounted for Ferdous, over 60 runs were required.

Babu struck a useful 22 but left number 10 and 11 batters Ripon and Murad with the task of getting 30 more runs. Incredibly, Ripon played out 65 deliveries in a 28-run knock while Murad's unbeaten 13 saw the duo knock off the runs as Shinepukur won by one wicket.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi picked up a commanding nine-wicket victory over Gazi Group at BKSP ground 3 to go second in the standings.

Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and Ziaur Rahman picked up three wickets each to bundle Gazi Group out for 157 before Sheikh Jamal openers Shykat Ali (77 not out) and Saif Hassan (54) saw Sheikh Jamal coast to victory.

In the other match at BKSP ground 4, City Club picked up their first win in the tournament in another close encounter.

Amite Hasan's 85 and Salman Hossain's run-a-ball 66 saw Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity reach 241 for seven.

City were moving along nicely with Zakirul Ahmed's 72 before Ashik Ul Alam's 74 got them closer but from the 43rd over onwards, they lost five wickets and added just 34 runs to slump to 240 for nine.

However, number 11 Shahriar Alam stepped up to the mark, hitting hit a six off the penultimate delivery of the innings to seize victory.