Abahani keep winning as immaculate Mashrafe rolls back year

||CF Correspondent||
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza rolled back the year with impeccable performance as Abahani Limited kept its winning spree in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), thrashing Gazi Group Cricketers by 29 runs at BKSP-4 ground today.

Mashrafe was instrumental with 6-46, a performance that single-handedly demolished Gazi Group Cricketers.

Jahurul Islam Omee hit his second century in the league to give Abahani Limited a commanding total, and Gazi Group Cricketer’s Imrul Kayes struck an eye-catching century to keep the match evenly contested but Mashrafe put a shed on them to hog the limelight by making the eventual difference.

When it mattered most, considered as best fast bowler, the country has ever produced, Mashrafe showed as to why he is still the best in the business despite being in the twilight of his career.

The six-wicket haul also kept Mashrafe just three wickets shy of being the second bowler from Bangladesh to reach 400-wicket is List A cricket after Abdur Razzak, who achieved the feat just on Wednesday. Mashrafe wicket-tally now is 397.

However, Opener Jahurul Islam hit 138 ball-130, smashing 14 fours and two sixes to steer Abahani to a hefty 286-6 after which Mashrafe dazzled with a gem of pace bowling to dismiss Gazi Group Cricketers for 257 in 48.4 overs.

Mashrafe struck in his just second ball of the day, dismissing opener Rony Talukdar for naught but Imrul Kayes resisted impeccably. Alongside him Myshukur Rahman also looked growing with strength.

As the other bowlers failed to make a breakthrough, Mashrafe again took the onus to dismiss Myshukur. Kayed remained unfazed and helped the side fight neck-to-neck.

While it looked he could take the match away from Abahani, Mashrafe intervened and got the better of him. Before being dismissed by Mashrafe, Kayes hammered 126 off 118 with 15 fours and five sixes.

Gazi’s tail-enders however still kept the hopes alive before Mashrafe came up in his third spell with fire to clean up the tail.

Earlier, Abahani’s much-vaunted top-order, barring Jahurul failed to convert their start. However skipper Mosaddek Hossain came up with handy support for Jahrul to rally the side. Mosaddek struck 71 off 76 with eight fours.

Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Nasum Ahmed snared two wickets apiece for Gazi Group.