Robiul gives Khelaghar rare success

A maiden century from Robiul Islam Robi gave Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity their second win of the Dhaka Premier League in the sixth round as they beat Victoria Sporting Club by 57 runs at the BKSP. 

Batting first, Khelaghar rode on Robiul's 115-ball 107 to post 303.

Robiul hit 15 fours and a six during his three-hour knock. He was well supported by Salauddin Pappu, who scored a 51-ball 60 with five sixes and five fours. The duo put on 102 runs for the opening wicket.

Nazimuddin and Masum Khan, with scores of 40 and 31 not out respectively, marshalled the middle order after the departures of Robiul and Salauddin. Dolar Mahmud, who had scored a half-century in the previous game came in towards the end to provide a few late hits to help them cross the 300-run mark. He hit 25 off 12 balls with two sixes and two fours. Rubel Mia, who finished with figures of three for 58, was the leading wicket-taker for Victoria.

Rubel, who opened the batting for Victoria was also a key figure with the bat, scoring 46 off 65 balls. However, Victoria kept losing wickets regularly during the chase and were eventually restricted to 246 for nine in 50 overs. Mohammad Arafat, who came in to bat at seven was their highest run-getter with 47 off 41 balls.

Khelaghar's foreign recruit, Sri Lankan Suraj Randiv, was the team's key wicket-taker, finishing with figures of three for 34.

Khelaghar's Robiul Islam Robi scored his maiden List A ton and helped his team to their second win. Photos: Star

In the day's other game, Partex Sporting Club went down to Gazi Group Cricketers by four wickets. This was the club's sixth straight defeat of the competition. While they lost this game, their batsmen managed to put up a fight yesterday.

Half-centuries from Jatin Saxena and Irfan Sukkur helped them post a commendable 270. While Jatin scored 61 off 52 balls with one six and nine fours, Irfan hit 69 off 77 balls with seven fours.

However, a brilliant knock from Jahurul Islam, who scored 96 off 122 balls with 11 fours and a six before retiring hurt, prevented Partex from getting their first win of the competition.

Jahurul's knock helped Gazi Group reach their target with one over to spare. He first put on a 68-run stand with Anamul Haque at the top and then shared a 49-run stand for the second wicket with Mominul Haque.

Jahurul played the role of the anchor alongside Sohrawadi Shuvo as the duo put on 74 runs for the third wicket. However, soon after he retired hurt in the 38th over.

By then, the target was well within reach and the middle order ensured that there were no major hiccups, reaching the target in 49 overs.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, a powerful performance from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, led by Prashant Chopra's 106, helped them score a massive 92-run win over Brothers Union.

Chopra's 106 off 116 balls, combined with Fazle Mahmud's 78 off 75 led them to 309.

After the exchange, Tanbir Hayder scalped a five-wicket haul to help bundle Brothers out for just 217 in 43.5 overs. Tanbir finished on five for 41.

SCORES IN BRIEF

PARTEX SC V GAZI GROUP 

PARTEX SPORTING CLUB: 270 for 9 (Irfan 69, Jatin 61; Hossain 2-21, Hider 2-64)

GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS: 271 for 6 in 49 overs (Jahurul 96, Anamul 36; Jubair 2-32, Rajibul 2-39)

Result: Gazi Group Cricketers won by four wickets.

Player of the match: Jahurul Islam

SHEIKH JAMAL V BROTHERS UNION

SHEIKH JAMAL: 309 for 7 (Prashant 106, Fazle 78, Abdullah 59; Saddam 2-57, Nihaduzzaman 2-68, Kazi Kamrul 2-51)

BROTHERS UNION: 217 all out in 43.5 overs (Farhad 70, Mizanur 31; Tanvir 5-41, Gazi 2-44)

Result: Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club won by 92 runs.

Player of the match: Prashant Chopra

KHELAGHAR SKS V VICTORIA SC

KHELAGHAR: 303 for 7 (Robiul 107, Salauddin 60, Nazimuddin 40; Rubel 3-58, Islamul 2-44)

VICTORIA: 246 for 9 (Arafat 47 not out, Rubel 46, Uttam 35; Randiv 3-34, Tanvir 2-36, Robiul 1-50)

Result: Khelaghar won by 57 runs.

Player of the match: Robiul Islam.