Mash rolls back the years

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza seems to have taken a page out of his past in this season's Dhaka Premier League. The straps holding the 32-year-old's legs together may be getting heavier as the days pass, but there seems to be no end to his magic.

On May 14 he had frustrated Mahmudullah Riyad's Sheikh Jamal  by scoring the fastest ever List A century by a Bangladeshi against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. And yesterday he ran through Soumya Sarkar's Legends of Rupganj with a six-wicket haul in Fatullah.

This was only the second time that the Bangladesh limited-overs captain scalped a six-wicket haul. The only other time he reached this landmark was almost 10 years ago when he finished with figures of six for 26 against Kenya on August 15, 2006.

His six-wicket haul helped Kalabagan Krira Chakra notch a much-needed win against Legends of Rupganj. The win has given Mashrafe's side eight points and a good opportunity to avoid the relegation league.

Batting first, Rupganj were bundled out for 191 in 49 overs. While Dewan Sabbir did the early damage by removing Rupganj openers Shahin Hossain and Soumya Sarkar, Mashrafe arrived in the mid-stages of the league and got a number of wickets with his slower deliveries.  He got the crucial wickets of Mohammad Mithun and Mosharraf Hossain before the 27th over and then ran through the tail.

Kalabagan made a good start to the chase with Jashimuddin and Rohan Prem putting a 50-plus stand for the second wicket. By the time rain stopped play in the 36th over, Kalabagan were poised at 127 for four. As per the Duckworth-Lewis system, they needed 118 on board and as a result won the game comfortably by 10 runs.

A low-scoring game at the BKSP saw Gazi Group Cricketers beat Brothers Union by 43 runs. Batting first Gazi Group were bowled out for 167 in 35.2 overs. Opener Anamul Haque scored a 52-ball 46 and put on 70 with Shamsur Rahman for the first wicket. However, once Anamul got out, they crumbled.

However Brothers Union too had a tough time with the bat and were bowled out for just 124 in 40.1 overs. Mahedi Hasan, who finished with figures of four for 16, was the chief destroyer.

A half-century from Mominul Haque and a four-wicket haul from Kamrul Islam Rabbi helped Victoria Sporting Club score a 28-run win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at Mirpur yesterday. Batting first, Victoria were bowled out for 247 in 49.4 overs. Sheikh Jamal however could only manage 219.  

SCORES IN BRIEF 
GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS: 167 all out in 35.2 overs (Anamul 46, Faruque 29; Tushar 4-27,Iftekhar 3-33)
BROTHERS UNION: 124 all out in 40.1 overs (Tushar 41, Zakir 19; Mahedi 4-16,Salehin 2-23)
Result: Gazi Group Cricketers won by 43 runs. 
LEGENDS OF RUPGANJ: 191 all out in 49 overs (Sajjadul 48, Asif 40; Mashrafe 6-42, Dewan 3-25)
KALABAGAN KRIRA CHAKRA: 127 for 4 in 35.4 overs (Jashimuddin 33, Rohan 33; Alauddin 2-13, Taijul 1-14)
Result: Kalabagan Krira Chakra won by 10 runs (D/L method) 
VICTORIA SPORTING CLUB: 247 all out in 49.4 overs (Mominul 50, De Silva 39, Fazle 37, Nadif 36; Riyad 3-40, Abdur 2-22)
SHEIKH JAMAL DHANMONDI CLUB: 219 all out in 48.3 overs (Shohag 59, Mahbubul 45; Kamrul 4-38, Sohrawadi 2-32)
Result: Victoria won by 28 runs.