NEGI ... 124 not out

The Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium witnessed probably the second-most exciting game of this season's Dhaka Premier League yesterday as Victoria Sporting Club threw away a game which they seemingly had in the bag at noon.

Chasing 259, Rupganj were reduced to 83 for six in 22.3 overs and it seemed like it was time to pack up and get back home early for iftar, but Mosharraf Hossain and Pawan Negi had other ideas.

Negi came in to bat at six and Mosharraf at eight and together the pair produced a scintillating 148-run seventh-wicket stand in just 22.1 overs to change the complexion of the game.

Negi plundered 124 off 89 balls with four sixes and 13 fours, while Mosharraf held one end up with a responsible 62-ball 41. In the end, Negi took Abahani home with a six off Chaturanga de Silva, sealing the game with seven balls to spare.

More than a boundary, the six was a statement. The best batsman of the game had dispatched the best bowler, who had taken five wickets, to win the match. As a result, Victoria relinquished the top spot to Rupganj.

Victoria begun well as half-centuries from Mominul Haque and young all-rounder Al-Amin took them to 258. Taijul Islam took three wickets for Rupganj, while Abu Hider and Negi took two each.

After the exchange, Mohammad Mithun smashed four boundaries in the opening over of the chase to show that he meant business.

However, Rupganj collapsed soon after, losing six wickets for 65 runs before Negi and Mosharraf resuscitated their innings. The Indian batsman was particularly harsh on Dollar Mahmud, whom he smacked for four boundaries in the 36th over to bring up his half-century. He reached his century off 77 balls with a boundary off Kamrul Islam Rabbi in the 44th over and there was no stopping him from there on.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, a disciplined bowling performance from Prime Bank Cricket Club, who finally seem to be hitting a groove, saw them beat Prime Doleshwar by six wickets in a game that was marred by rain.

Rubel Hossain picked up two wickets in his eight overs and gave away just 19 runs. In fact, every bowler in the side boasted a good economy rate with the highest, at four, coming from Shuvagata Hom.

At 100 for six in 33 overs, rain interrupted play and once the game resumed, Prime Bank needed an easy 118 from 33 overs to win the game. Unmukt Chand scored an unbeaten 43 and ensured that there would be no upsets in the chase.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

VICTORIA SPORTING CLUB: 258 all out in 50 overs (Mominul 82, Al-Amin 63; Taijul 3-47, Hider 2-32, Negi 2-54)

LEGENDS OF RUPGANJ: 264 for 8 in 48.5 overs (Negi 124 not out, Mosharraf 41; De Silva 5-46)

Result: Rupganj won by two wickets.  

PRIME DOLESHWAR: 100 for 6 in 33 overs (Nasir 30 not out, Sachin 17; Rubel 2-19, Monir 1-15)

PRIME BANK: 122 for 4 in 25 overs (Chand 43 n o, Sabbir 28; Sanjamul 2-25)

Result: Prime Bank won by six wickets. (D/L method)