Last-ball six clinches Mirpur thriller on day of nail-biters

All three games of the second round of the Dhaka Premier League witnessed close finishes on Tuesday, 26 April. 

Abahani went down to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by four wickets in Mirpur in a match that was won with a last-ball six. Prime Bank Cricket Club beat Cricket Coaching School by just five runs at Savar while Kalabagan Krira Chakra were just four runs short of overcoming Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club’s target of 288 in Fatullah. 

Abahani skipper Tamim Iqbal fired a 91-ball 90 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today in his side’s game against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to help them post 287. He hit 11 fours during his knock before being dismissed in the 32nd over by his national colleague and Sheikh Jamal skipper Mahmudullah Riyad.

He was ably supported by Abahani’s Indian recruit Uday Kaul who scored a 78-ball 63 with five fours and a six. Youngsters Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain also played their respective roles to perfection with scores of 52 and 46 respectively.

However, Tamim’s knock went in vain as a fierce century from opener Mahbubul Karim ensured that Sheikh Jamal reach home in style. He smacked 130 runs off 110 balls including 15 fours and five sixes to do half the job for them. Marshall Ayub contributed with a 65-ball 47, while Mahmudullah Riyad posted 27. 

In the last over of the game, Sheikh Jamal required seven off six balls. The first five balls from Taskin Ahmed produced two runs and two wickets. With five runs required off the last ball, Taskin – who had bowled numerous Yorkers to bring his side back into the game – bowled a half volley that Muktar Ali dispatched for a straight six to give Sheikh Jamal the victory in an intense finish. 

Scores in Brief
Abahani: 287 for 4 (Tamim 90, Kaul 63, Nazmul 52, Mosaddek 46; Moniruzzaman 1-25) v Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club: 289 for 6 (Mahbubul 130, Marshall 47; Nazmul Shanto 2-39, Saqlain 2-51) 
Result: Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club won by four wickets. 
Prime Bank Cricket Club: 257 all out in 48.3 overs (Taibur 76, Yasir 53; Nasum 3-45, Saifuddin 2-53, Refatuzzaman 2-29, Saleh Ahmed 2-38) v Cricket Coaching School: 252 for 7 ( Salman 110, Saif 100; Rbuel 3-48, Shuvagata 2-36)
Result: Prime Bank Cricket Club won by five runs. 
Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club: 287 for 8 (Nasir 97, Imtiaz 73, Farhad 47; Mashrafe 3-50, Razzak 2-32) v Kalabagan Krira Chakra: 283 for 9 (Mehrab 86, Jashimuddin 45; Rahatul 3-40)
Result: Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club won by four runs.