Ziaur blitz takes Sheikh Jamal to DPL final

Things did not start well for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club but it all ended well as they overcame Shinepukur Cricket Club by five wickets to make it to the final of the inaugural Dhaka Premier League T20 tournament, thanks to a special knock by Ziaur Rahman.

Having won the toss, Shinepukur went in to bat and posted 181 runs for seven wickets with Afif Hossain playing a brilliant 41-ball 65-run knock. Sabbir Hossain had struck 47 at the top while Shuvagata Hom – in good form throughout the tournament -- once again was among the runs, hitting a 17-ball 31. The innings could have been bigger if not for Shahidul Islam (2) Salauddin Shakil (4) bagging four wickets at crucial periods of the game.

Sheikh Jamal did not start the chase very well, losing wickets at key intervals. They lost five wickets for 65 runs in nine overs before a 117-run sixth-wicket partnership between Nurul Hasan and Ziaur Rahman saw them coast to victory with five wickets intact and 14 deliveries to spare.

Captain Nurul played a handy 31-ball 43-run knock but Ziaur caused havoc at the other end, trading in sixes. He hit four fours and seven sixes in a 29-ball 72 to see his side go through to the final.