Mohammad Ashraful scored 88 runs in the first seven matches and after a one-match break finally regained his rhythm with an unbeaten 81 that guided Kalabagan Krira Chakra to their second win in the Dhaka Premier League at the BKSP yesterday.

The brightest spotlight, however, belonged to Gazi Group Cricketers in the rain-interrupted ninth-round matches as they continued their flawless run with a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samiti at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium while Prime Bank Cricket Club posted an exciting one-run win against Brothers Union at BKSP on way to their seventh success in nine games.

Since returning to competitive cricket after a three-year ban for spot-fixing, Ashraful was nowhere near the form of old but yesterday the right-hander hit an unbeaten 81 off 87 balls that contained six fours and two sixes as Kalabagan secured an easy seven-wicket victory over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. The match was reduced to 45 overs a side due to rain and Jamal scored 213 for nine, a total that Kalabagan eclipsed riding on an unbeaten 111-run fourth-wicket partnership between Ashraful and Mehrab Hossain, who hit an unbeaten 43.

Out-of-favour Anamul Haque continued his good form with a 77-ball 67 after Abu Haider's four-wicket haul as Gazi Group successfully chased Khelaghar's 175 with 41 balls and seven wickets to spare. Suhrawardi Shuvo was the other notable contributor for Gazi with the bat as the left-hander contributed an unbeaten 58 off 83 balls. It was a 43-overs-a-side affair due to rain interruptions.

In another 43-overs-a-side match, Prime Bank snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as Brothers completed their 43-over quota on 248 for eight in reply to Prime Bank's 249 for six.