Thriller at BKSP, hammerings elsewhere

Three centuries in a game that saw 691 runs being scored over two innings -- the highest-scoring encounter of this edition of the Dhaka Premier League -- was witnessed yesterday. Shinepukur Cricket Club managed 334 runs on the day but fell short and lost the game by 23 runs while chasing a mammoth 357 for seven posted by Legends of Rupganj at BKSP-3.

In the day's other game, Abahani Limited registered a massive 189-run victory over Uttara Sporting Club, courtesy of Sabbir Rahman's all-round brilliance at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Mizanur Rahman's run-a-ball 71 secured a comfortable seven-wicket win for Brothers Union against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.

However, the match between Shinepukur and Rupganj had grabbed the spotlight yesterday. After being asked to bat first, Rupganj's 132-run opening stand between Azmir Ahmed and Mohammad Naim provided just a glimpse of what was to follow -- a run fest. After Azmir was dismissed following his 47-ball 48, opener Naim and skipper Naeem Islam strung together a 93-run second-wicket stand before the former's quick-fire 108-ball 122 was ended by a Sabbir Hosan delivery in the 35th over. But Naeem's 108-run knock ensured Rupganj post a huge total.

Shinepukur also started the chase with a 104-run opening partnership between Uday Kaul and Sabbir in just 13.4 overs before the former departed for 29. However, valiant efforts from Sabbir (100 off 87 balls) and Towhid Hridoy (83 off 81 balls) took Shinepukur agonisingly close.

In Fatullah, Abahani's Sabbir scored an unbeaten 61 to support Najmul Hossain's 83 and skipper Mosaddek Hossain's 64 runs at the top and help Abahani post a challenging 285 for six. After the exchange, Sabbir's economical figures of two wickets for four runs in two overs, alongside pacer Rubel Hossain's three for 16, helped Abahani bundle Uttara for a paltry 96-run total.

The other game of the day saw Elias Sunny's 42 off 64 balls help Sheikh Jamal reach a below-par 180 in 47.5 overs in a game that Brothers Union dominated throughout. Brothers chased the low total in just 36.5 overs, courtesy of Mizanur's fifty and Chirag Jani's unbeaten 50 at the end.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

RUPGANJ V SHINEPUKUR

RUPGANJ: 357 for 7 in 50 overs (Naim 122, Naeem 108; Hamidul 2-45)

SHINEPUKUR: 334 all out in 49 overs (Sabbir 100, Towhid 83; Nabil 3-51)

Result: Rupganj won by 23 runs.

ABAHANI V UTTARA SPORTING

ABAHANI: 285 for 6 in 50 overs (Najmul 83, Mosaddek 64, Sabbir 61 not out; Nahid 3-70)

UTTARA SPORTING: 96 all out in 33 overs (Shakhir 24; Rubel 3-16, Sabbir 2-4)

Result: Abahani won by 189 runs.

SHEIKH JAMAL V BROTHERS UNION

SHEIKH JAMAL: 180 all out in 47.5 overs (Sunny 42, Rakin 34; Mehedi 3-25)

BROTHERS UNION: 183 for 3 in 36.5 overs (Mizanur 71, Jani 50 not out; Shahidul 2-30)

Result: Brothers Union won by 7 wickets.