Tons galore at BKSP

BKSP was looking like a good hunting ground for batters today in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches in ground 3 and 4. Prime Bank is playing newly-promoted Rupganj Tigers who surprised defending champions Abahani Limited in their earlier match at ground 4 while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi took on Legends of Rupganj at ground 3.

In the race to the triple-digit figure, Anamul Haque Bijoy was the first to a ton today during a 125-ball 127 for his side Prime Bank. Bijoy's 13th List A ton was laced with eight fours and eight sixes. Coming in at number four, Prime Bank's Nasir Hossain was racing Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi's Imrul Kayes, who was batting at ground 3. In the end, both notched tons but Imrul got to his mark first, reaching his 11th List A ton in the 41st over.

Photo: Collected

Nasir got to the mark soon after in ground four in the 42nd over, hitting Farhad Reza for four to notch his eighth List A century. Sent in to bat, Prime Bank were off to a steady start despite losing two wickets before Bijoy and Nasir starred in a 196-run third-wicket stand off 186 deliveries. Nasir remained unbeaten on 105 as Prime Bank posted 314 for six.

Sheikh Jamal posted 297 for 5 in Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's first game for Legends of Rupganj this season. Saif Hassan carried on his good form -- having hit 62 against Khelaghar in the earlier game -- by scoring a 79-ball 78. Imrul added some quick runs following his ton, hitting 13 fours and a six during a 122-run knock off 139 deliveries before being castled by Chirag Jani in the 45th over. Mashrafe got the wicket of Shykat Ali in his first over and ended with figures of 61 for 1 in 10 overs for Legends of Rupganj .

Legends of Rupganj and Rupganj Tigers came up with strong replies in their respective matches but it was not enough in the end. Legends of Rupganj lost early wickets before Tanzid Hasan Tamim's 49 off 55 saw them comeback into the game. Skipper Naeem Islam and number five Chirag (59 off 70) starred in a 129-run stand for Rupganj to keep the match well and truly alive. Naeem could have been the second centurion of the game after Imrul but after he departed in the 44th over for 95 off 111 deliveries, Rupganj lost their way. The last five wickets fell for 21 runs as Legends of Rupganj were bowled out for 248. Spinner Sunzamul bagging five wickets saw Sheikh Jamal win by 49 runs.

Zakir Hasan continued his form with the bat in chase of Prime Bank's 314 for six. Zakir, who struck a ton in the earlier match against Abahani, struck a 59-ball 63 while Aparajith Baba struck 79 off 93 but the innings did not get further foothold after the two departed as Rakibul Hasan picked up four for 44 to give Prime Bank an 86-run win.

Qazi Anik during the match against City Club today. Photo: Collected

In the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Gazi Group Cricketers' Qazi Anik derailed City Club with a six wicket haul, getting the new ball to swing early before using short deliveries and yorkers to good effect in the middle overs and death overs effectively.

Coming in as first change, Anik struck in his second over before picking up City Club captain Jawad Royen caught behind in his fourth over. Having picked up Moinul Islam's wicket in his sixth over, he finished his first spell with 13 runs and three wickets. He did not let the tail wag, picking up three more wickets in his last two overs as City Club were bowled out for 199.

Gazi Group opener Mehedi Maruf carried his side through the chase, hitting 90 before going out retired hurt in the 39th over with his team needing 37 runs more. Skipper Akbar Ali's unbeaten 27 off 30 and Zohaib Khan's 18 not out saw Gazi win by six wickets.