Batters rule the day

Runs continued to rain at BKSP-3 with Prime Doleshwar chasing down Prime Bank's 301 for eight to register a five-wicket victory in their Dhaka Premier League encounter yesterday.

The batsmen also dictated the terms in the two other games played on the day. Mohammedan skipper Raqibul Hasan led from the front, striking an unbeaten 88-ball 84 to ensure a four-wicket win over Khelaghar SKS at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, it was Touhid Tareq's unbeaten 76 that proved decisive as his side, Gazi Group, secured a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP).

Back at BKSP-3, after being sent in to bat Prime Bank's Sudip Chatterjee and Al-Amin strung together a 110-run third-wicket partnership after the side lost their openers -- skipper Anamul Haque and Rubel Mia -- on 52 in 13.4 overs.

Chatterjee departed after scoring 57 runs but Al-Amin went on to reach the three-figure mark, scoring 111 runs off 99 balls before being run-out in the 45th over. With the foundation laid by the two batsmen, Prime Bank went on to post the huge 301-run total.

However, Doleshwar's batsmen were up to the task as opener Saif Hassan's 85 was well supported by Marshal Ayub's 76 and Saad Nasim's 64 in the middle. Nasim, who started with a six off the second delivery he faced, laced his innings with five sixes and two fours before departing in the 48th over. Doleshwar skipper Forhad Reza then put on the finishing touches with an unbeaten 35 to see his side through to the target with 10 balls to spare.

In Mirpur, Mosaddek Iftekhar struck 87 to help Khelaghar reach a modest 225-run total before being bundled out. However, Mosaddek's effort was eventually trumped by skipper Raqibul as Mohammedan registered a win with four balls to spare. Raqibul was vital in Mohammedan's previous match as well, scoring 82 not out in a three-wicket victory over Gazi Group earlier this week.

In the other game, BKSP posted a challenging 249 for seven, thanks to Mahmudul Hasan's 85 and an unbeaten 63 from Aminul Islam. However, Mahedi Hasan's 73-ball 70 and Touhid's knock helped Gazi Group get their first victory of this edition.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

PRIME BANK V DOLESHWAR

PRIME BANK: 301 for 8 in 50 overs (Chatterjee 57, Al-Amin 111; Sunny 2-34, Forhad 2-43)

DOLESHWAR: 302 for 5 in 48.2 overs (Saif 85, Ayub 76, Nasim 64; Monir 2-43)

Result: Doleshwar won by five wickets.

KHELAGHAR V MOHAMMEDAN

KHELAGHAR: 225 all out in 47.3 overs (Mosaddek 87, Amit 37; Gazi 3-41, Onik 2-19)

MOHAMMEDAN: 228 for 6 in 49.2 overs (Mazid 40, Raqibul 84 not out; Robiul 2-41, Tanvir 2-41)

Result: Mohammedan won by four wickets.

BKSP V GAZI GROUP

BKSP: 249 for 7 in 50 overs (Mahmudul 85, Aminul 63 not out, Shamim 44; Rabbi 2-52)

GAZI: 252 for 6 in 49.2 overs (Mahedi 70, Touhid 76 not out; Mukidul 2-56)

Result: Gazi won by four wickets.