Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza returned to business as usual with the willow and leather following a short break from cricket but it was Mohammad Saifuddin who guided Abahani to a 14-run victory over Brothers Union with an allround performance in a Dhaka Premier League encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Apart from Saifuddin's match-winning effort, a five-wicket haul from Ziaur Rahman and hundreds from Anamul Haque and Yasir Ali were highlights of the day at three different venues.

Yasir could have the hero of the match but his fine unbeaten 112-ball 106-run innings went in vain due to a lack of support from other batsmen as Abahani rode on a good team effort to win their third match on the trot.

Abahani recovered from 95 for four to put up a 236 for six in their share of 50 overs, courtesy of Nazmul Hossain's 72-ball 44, captain Mosaddek Hossain's 95-ball 54, Saifuddin's 45-ball 59 and Mashrafe's unbeaten 15-ball 26.  Brothers also made a poor start by losing four wickets for 62 runs and eventually finished their 50-over quota on 222 for eight despite Yasir's effort. Mashrafe and Sabbir Rahman claimed two wickets each but Rubel Hossain and Mosaddek also did a good job with some economical bowling even though they remained wicketless.

In a low-scoring affair at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Ziaur shone with the ball as his fifer and a four-wicket haul from Salauddin Sakil helped Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi dismiss Shinepukur Cricket Club for 94 runs and secure a 12-run victory; their first success in three matches.

Earlier Shoriful Islam and Sabbir Hossain dictated the terms with the ball as Sheikh Jamal were bundled out for 106.

At BKSP, Anamul denied Legends of Rupganj any hopes of winning with their paltry total of 163 as his scintillating unbeaten hundred saw Prime Bank Cricket Club reach the target in 31.3 overs with nine wickets in hand. Prime Bank skipper Anamul struck 100 off 111 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes.  Mohor Sheikh, Al-Amin Hossain, Ariful Haque, Abdur Razzak and Alok Kapali scalped two wickets each to lay the platform for Anamul and bag their second win in three matches.

SCORES IN BRIEF