Jamal, Rupganj keep fight alive

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Legends of Rupganj kept their hopes alive in the title race, registering wins in their Super League encounters over Gazi Group Cricketers and Khelghar Samaj Kallyan Samity respectively.  Sheikh Jamal won their match by eight runs in the Duckworth-Lewis method and Rupganj prevailed by 12 runs.

Both teams now have 18 points, two behind table-toppers Abahani, setting up the Dhaka Premier League's second and final phase for a close finish with two more games remaining in the Super League.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium in Mirpur, Gazi managed 217 for seven after 47 overs in chase of a 249-run target when rain stopped play. The D/L par score for the batting side was 226 runs.

Asif Ahmed was unbeaten on 52 off 82 balls while Jaker Ali top-scored with 61 off 78 balls for Gazi.

Chasing the modest target, Gazi however kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were struggling on 84 for four inside 20 overs before Asif and Jaker added 87 runs for the fifth wicket.

Young under-19 right-arm medium pacer Robiul Haque was the pick of the bowlers and bagged three wickets for 27 runs from his seven overs.

Earlier, Sheikh Jamal were all out for 248 in 47.4 overs after being asked to bat. Ziaur Rahman struck some lusty blows at the end and top-scored with 86 off 74 balls with the help of five sixes and six fours, while Shykat Ali and Tanbir Hander also struck fifties.

Left-arm seamer Abu Hider, who picked up three wickets in the 48th over to bundle out the batting side, ended up with figures of four for 57 from his 8.4 overs.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali stadium in Fatullah, Khelaghar -- the surprise package of this season -- were unable to chase down a small target of 217 as they were bundled out for 204 in 48.5 overs

Asked to bat first, Rupganj were in all sorts of trouble on 126 for seven inside 34 overs before number -eight batsman Nazmul Hossain smashed a brilliant, unbeaten 66-ball 63 with two sixes and three fours. Along with Asif Hasan, Nazmul added 50 runs for the eighth wicket and, after the former's dismissal, helped Rupganj past the 200 mark.

In reply, apart from opener Mahidul Islam's 77, none of the Khelaghar batsmen were able to score significantly, with skipper Nazimuddin's 45 being the second-highest score.