Super chase sees Jamal to Super League

The last batch of matches in the first phase of the Dhaka Premier League could have seen some changes to the Super League line-up that had taken shape after the first 10 rounds of matches, but through an astounding performance from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the BKSP-3 yesterday, the status quo held after 11 rounds of the country's premier limited-overs compeition.

Jamal, who finished the first phase in fifth position, would have dropped to seventh and seen their Super League hopes go up in smoke if they failed to climb the mountain that was Mohammedan's mammoth 339 for five, but fireworks from the bats of Prashant Chopra, Shohag Gazi and Tanbir Hayder took them home with two balls and a solitary wicket to spare. It is likely the highest successful chase in the league's history, although the previous highest chase could not be identified.

Their seventh win from 11 games gave Sheikh Jamal 14 points, two clear of Legends of Rupganj, who would have gone through if the teams finished on equal points by virtue of having a winning head-to-head record over Sheikh Jamal. Instead, Rupganj will now miss out on the Super League, having finished equal in terms of points with Mohammedan, who had beaten Rupganj in their sixth-round match.

In the day's other matches, the aura of invincibility surrounding Gazi Group Cricketers -- who had won nine out of nine heading into the 10th round -- dissipated as they suffered their second defeat on the trot, losing to Prime Bank Cricket Club by seven wickets at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. At BKSP-4, Kalabagan Krira Chakra moved clear of the relegation zone by defeating Khelagar Samaj Kallyan Samity by five wickets.

The story of the day, however, was Sheikh Jamal's epic victory. Mohammedan batted superbly after being asked to bat first, with opener Shamsur Rahman hitting an unbeaten 152-ball 144 with seven fours and as many sixes and putting together a 173-run second-wicket stand with Rony Talukder, whose innings of 110 off 99 balls with 10 fours and three sixes provided the impetus through the middle overs.

In the chase, although they lost three wickets within the first 19 overs, a scintillating innings from Chopra meant that Sheikh Jamal were well ahead of the required rate by the time Chopra was third man out, caught off Mohammad Azim for a 60-ball 86 with the help of 10 boundaries and five sixes. The runs were however flowing from the bat of Gazi, and it seemed like Sheikh Jamal would run out of wickets while being ahead of the run-rate.

When Gazi was out off the bowling of Charith Asalanka for a 64-ball 89 that included eight fours and three sixes, Sheikh Jamal were 233 for six in the 33rd over. It was then that Tanbir steadied the ship with 77 off 72 balls. There was late drama as Azim came back to dismiss Tanbir with 20 runs to win off 26 balls, and the drama was enhanced when the same bowler dismissed Mahmudul Haque and Nuruddin Nobin, but Elias Sunny and Shahadat Hossain took them home in a nail-biting finish.

In Fatullah, 79 from Mominul Haque and 66 from Jahurul Islam, who retired hurt, carried league leaders Gazi Group to 214 for nine, but fourth-placed Prime Bank easily overtook that score courtesy of solid top-order batting led by 66 from opener Zakir Hasan, who incidentally also retired hurt.

It was a low-scoring encounter in BKSP-4 as Kalabagan overtook Khelaghar's 204 for seven with five wickets and 13 balls to spare.

The Super League is tentatively set to start on May 24 with Gazi Group, defending champions Abahani, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, Prime Bank, Sheikh Jamal and Mohammedan set to duke it out for the grand prize.

The relegation league is set to start from June 1 with two among Khelaghar, Partex Sporting Club and Victoria Sporting Club to be demoted after the league.