The 10th round of the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL) closed out yesterday with all three matches of the day being decided through the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after rain interruptions. Mohammedan Sporting Club kept hopes of reaching the Super League stage alive with a whopping 133-run victory -- courtesy of a Raqibul Hasan century -- over Prime Bank Cricket Club at BKSP-4.

However, on a day when all three fixtures were marred by rain, his heroics went in vain as Gazi triumphed by 21 runs by virtue of DLS method. Photo: Collected

It was a special day for the fans of DPL as the nation's ace left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman featured for Shinepukur Cricket Club against Gazi Group -- his first DPL match in four years. However, despite the 23-year-old's skills with the ball -- taking two wickets in his very first over-- Gazi Group came prevailed by 21 runs through the DLS method at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, despite a century from Fazle Mahmud, Brothers Union suffered a 12-run defeat at the hands of Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity.

It was once again a familiar performer in Raqibul who scored a magnificent 102 runs off 104 balls to help Mohammedan to their fifth win. After being asked to bat first, Mohammedan lost opener Irfan Sukkur in the very first over of the game and were reeling on 88 for five at one stage. However, a resilient Raqibul strung a 146-run sixth-wicket stand with Rajat Bhatia to help his side recover from the early hiccup. After Bhatia was dismissed for 66, a quickfire 14-ball 33 from Shohag Gazi and Raqibul's century ensured Mohammedan posted a challenging 296 for nine.

After the exchange, it was again Gazi -- this time with the ball -- who returned match-winning figures of four for 21 as Prime Bank could only manage 150 for nine while chasing a reduced target of 284 runs in 39.1 overs.

In Mirpur, Shinepukur's Mustafizur marked his return brilliantly as he started off with the wickets of Waliul Karim and Gazi skipper Imrul Kayes in the very first over during Gazi Group's chase of Shinepukur's 177 for nine. Mustafizur went on to dismiss Mahedi Hasan but Shamsur Rahman's unbeaten 53 ensured a Gazi win through DLS.  

Mohammedan's Raqibul Hasan (L) hit 102 in a 133-run win over Prime Bank in a DPL encounter in Savar yesterday. In Fatullah, Fazle Mahmud's 103 for Brothers Union could not avert a 12-run defeat against Khelaghar. PHOTO: Star File/Firoz Ahmed

Elsewhere, Brothers rode on Fazle's brilliant 116-ball 103 and posted a challenging 267 for six. However, Khelaghar's 84 for one in 20 overs saw them win the game via DLS method.   

SCORES IN BRIEF

SHINEPUKUR v GAZI GROUP

Shinepukur: 177 for 9 in 48 overs (Delwar 40 not out, Shadman 40; Sanjit 4-25, Nasum 2-33)

Gazi: 106 for 4 in 21.5 overs (Shamsur 53 not out, Rony 16, Mahedi 13; Mustafizur 3-23)

Result: Gazi Group won by 21 runs (D/L method).

Player-of-the-match: Sanjit Saha.

BROTHERS UNION v KHELAGHAR SKS

Brothers: 267 for 6 in 50 overs (Fazle 103, Mizanur 49, Yasir 47 not out; Robiul 1-28)

Khelaghar: 84 for 1 in 20 overs (Robiul 39 not out, Mahidul 21 not out, Shahriar 21; Fazle 0-9)

Result: Khelaghar won by 12 runs (D/L method).

Player-of-the-match: Fazle Mahmud.

MOHAMMEDAN v PRIME BANK

Mohammedan: 296 for 9 in 50 overs (Raqibul 102, Bhatia 66; Monir 2-37, Al-Amin 2-54)

Prime Bank: 150 for 9 in 39.1 overs (Nahidul 28, Anamul 26; Sohag 4-21, Ashraful 3-37)

Result: Mohammedan won by 133 runs (D/L method).

Player-of-the-match: Raqibul Hasan.