Abahani in pole position, Christchurch-survivors return DPL
Wasim Jaffer. -Cricfrenzy
||CF Correspondent||
Defending champions Abahani Limited took solo lead in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) point table amid the return of the national cricketers who survived a deadly terrorist attack in Christchurch, leaving the trauma behind them.
Five cricketers—Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Shadman Islam, Mohammad Mithun and Taijul Islam who were in the bus which was about to enter into the Al Noor Mosque when the terrorist fired openly to leave several dead, joined the respective side to play the DPL.
However amid their participation in the league, much to the relief of the fans and BCB, Abahani Limited maintained their winning streak by sealing their fourth consecutive victory as they recorded a five-wicket win over Shinepukur Cricket Club at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.
After registering three wins in a row, Mohammedan Sporting Club’s winning-march finally halted when Legends of Rupganj beat them by four-wicket in a high-scoring match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Anamul Haque Bijoy meanwhile scored his second successive century in the league as Prime Bank Cricket Club outclassed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 29 runs as per D/L method in the rain-affected match at the BKSP-3 ground.
While Abahani lead the point table with full eight points from four matches, Prime Bank, Mohammedan and Legends of Rupganj achieved six points so far but Prime Bank moved to the second spot by virtue of better-run-rate while Mohammedan are in the third spot.
Abahani vs Shinepukur
All eyes were locked on Christchurch-returned Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun and Shadman Islam when those two teams faced off at Fatullah. The three stars couldn’t fare well but their participation, erasing the traumatic condition, was welcomed by their teammates. Shinepukur’s opener Shadman, playing through his back trouble scored 16 while Soumya, opening for Abahani scored 33 and Mithun made 15.
Put into bat first, Shinepukur were restricted to 203-9 in 50 overs, which Abahani overhauled with ease, making 206-5 in 48.3 overs. Abahani’s Indian opener Wasim Jaffer led the run chase with well-composed 76. He and Soumya paved a solid platform for the side, sharing 62 for the opening stand. Soumya struck one six and one four in his 57 ball-33 before being dismissed by Shuvagata Hom.
Wasim Jaffer then shared another significant 85-run partnership with Nazmul Hossain Shanto who made 42. They tasted a hiccup half-way through the innings when Shanto and Jaffer were removed in short space while Mosaddek Hossain and Mithun couldn’t hold together the innings. But Sabbir Rahman and Munim Shahriar ensured there would be no problem in attaining the target.
Captain Afif Hossain was the top-scorer for Shinepukur with 48 while Towhid Ridoy contributed 39. Abahani captain Mosaddek Hossain scalped 3-41 while fast bowler Rubel Hossin and left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam complemented him with 2-28 and 2-41 respectively.
Mohammedan vs Legends of Rupganj
Opener Abdul Majid’s 129 ball-107 was not enough to save Mohammedan from the four-wicket defeat as Rupganj, rode on a combined team effort to hand the Motijhil outfit their first defeat in the game. Thanks to Majid’s century, Mohammedan compiled 295-7, a respectable target that Rupganj gunned down with four balls to spare, making 296-6.
Despite a horrible start that left Rupganj at 40-2, Mominul Haque, the survivor of Christchurch attack, kept the side in the hunt, hitting 54 ball-55 with six fours and two sixes. Utilized the platform set by Mominul, captain Naeem Islam and Indian recruit Rishi Dhawan helped the side overhaul the big target with comparatively ease.
Naeem scored 85 off 92, hitting eight fours while Dhawan made 51. Shafiul Islam scalped 2-65 for Mohammedan. Apart from Majid, Nadif Chowdhury was the other notable contributor for Mohammedan with 67. Pace bowler Shahid grabbed 3-70 for Rupganj.
Prime Bank vs Sheikh Jamal
Anamul Haque followed his 100 not out against Rupganj with 101 against Sheikh Jamal while Indian recruit Abhimanyu Easrwan hammered 126 ball-133 as Prime Bank racked up a hefty 344-6. Ariful Haque blasted 32 ball-67 not out with four fours and three sixes to give the side a late impetus.
Sheikh Jamal were 206-4 in 37.1 overs when the rain interrupted the game. The match referee later declared Prime Bank win by 29 runs by D/L method as the consistent rain gave no chance to restart the game. Playing for Rupganj Taijul Islam returned 1-57.
