|| CF DESK ||

Munim Shahriar of Abahani Limited took up from where he had left off in the previous game as he scored another scorching fifty, which, together with Najmul Hossain Shanto's unbeaten fifty, helped Abahani upset Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 49 runs in a shortened-over Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division T20 League game in Mirpur Monday.

Abahani put up a respectable 181 for four in 18.2 overs thanks to Munim's 40-ball 74 and Shanto's unbeaten 42-ball 65 before rain stopped play at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Sheikh Jamal's aim was reduced to 148 runs from 13 overs when play began after the weather delay. Sheikh Jamal were defeated for the third time in eight matches, scoring only 98 for eight runs.

Abahani lost opener Mohammad Naim early after electing to bat. After an 11-ball 10, Naim was bowled out by all-rounder Nasir Hossain in the fourth over. Munim, undaunted by the early wicket, continued to play aggressively as he and Shanto put on an 88-run second-wicket stand in just 53 balls. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who adjudged ICC player of the month today, got out for naught.

Nurul Hasan's side could never match the required run rate of over 11 per over, and Sheikh Jamal's problems were exacerbated by disciplined bowling from pacers Mehedi Hasan Rana and Mohammad Saifuddin, as well as spinner Arafat Sunny.

Mehedi, the young pacer, was the most successful with the ball, taking three for 16 in three overs. Sunny, a left-arm spinner, took two wickets, while Saifuddin took one.