All-round Mahmudul stuns Abahani

The seventh round of the Dhaka Premier League on May 16 saw a big upset as th placed Kalabagan Cricket Academy subjected struggling giants Abahani to a three-wicket defeat at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. 

In the day's other matches, a Nurul Islam century for Prime Bank drove the holders to a 60-run win over Legends of Rupganj at the BKSP, while a Naeem Islam ton went in vain at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur Prime Doleshwar beat Mohammedan six wickets.

Abahani-Kalabagan CA

Abahani Limited captain Tamim Iqbal won the toss against Kalabagan Cricket Academy led by Mahmudul Hasan and did not hesitate to bat first and put up a good total on the board. Although his side were well and truly on top by the half-way mark of their innings, Kalabagan fought back to keep Abahani down to 282 for seven in 50 overs.

Abahani’s opener Avishek Mitra made his highest score in DPL 2016 with 63 from 82. 40s from Tamim, Manoj Tiwary and Mosaddek Hossain gave Abahani a challenging total. Mahmudul grabbed his best bowling figures of DPL 2016 with three wickets for 52 in 10 overs. 

In reply, the Kalabagan skipper completed a fantastic all-round display by hitting 111-ball 106 with eight fours and three sixes. In addition to the captain's innings, a 44-ball 47 from Taposh Ghosh set up a rousing win as KCA chased down the total with three wickets and 3.1 overs to spare. 

Prime Bank-Legends of Rupganj

Prime Bank Cricket Club posted 299 for nine on the back of Nurul’s 108 and Mehedi Maruf’s 75 after Legends of Rupganj captain Mosharraf Hossain won the toss and elected to field at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) No. 3 ground today.

The middle order for Prime Bank provided the bulk of the runs but their momentum petered out late in the innings. Nurul struck his maiden List A cricket century with 108 from 112 balls. His knock contained seven hits across the rope and two over. 

For Legends of Rupganj, Mosharraf, Asif Ahmed, Alauddin Babu and Nahidul Islam took two wickets each. 

Rupganj's chase was hampered by regular wickets, and at 86 for four in the 21st over they were all but defeated. A 47 from Asif Ahmed and a pair of 20s from skipper Mosharraf Hossain and Nahidul Islam lent the innings some respectability before they were all out for 239 with 4.1 overs still to play. Indian seamer Sachin Rana was the pick of the bowlers with four for 37 from eight overs. 

Mohammedan-Prime Doleshwar

At Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club bowlers vindicated their captain Forhad Reza’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss and managed to restrict Mohammedan Sporting Club to 188 in 47.4 overs.

Mohammedan suffered a torrid start when they lost their third wicket inside six overs with only 16 on the board. The fifth wicket stand of 77 in 18 overs between Naeem and Ariful Haque lifted Mohammedan out of the doldrums but Prime Doleshwar bowlers came back late in the innings and polished off the tail. Naeem came to his side's rescue with his fifth ton in List A cricket. He made 100 in 147 balls with 10 fours. 

Prime Doleshwar captain Farhad Reza picked up his second best bowling figures in the ongoing DPL with 3 for 26 in 10. Al-Amin Hossain contributed to his team with three wickets for 34 runs today, his third three-for in this competition.

In reply, a 109-ball 88 from in-form opener Imtiaz Hossain guided Doleshwar to a six-wicket victory with 8.3 overs to spare. National player Nasir Hossain chimed in with 37 to make sure there were no hiccups after Imtiaz's departure. 

Scores in brief

Abahani: 282 for 7 (Avishek Mitra 63, Tamim 48, Manoj Tiwary 40; Mahmudul 3-52, Noor 1-47)
Kalabagan Cricket Academy: 286 for 7 in 46.5 overs (Mahmudul 106, Taposh 47, Jatin 43; Abul 3-47, Saqlain 1-44)
Result: Kalabagan Cricket Academy won by three wickets. 

Prime Bank Cricket Club: 299 for 9 (Nurul 108, Mehedi 75; Nahidul 2-38, Alauddin 2-45, Asif 2-49, Mosharraf 2-52)
Legends of Rupganj: 239 all out in 45.5 overs (Jalaj 52, Asif 47, Mosharraf 25; Sachin Rana 4-37, Rubel 2-24, Nazmul 2-44)
Result: Prime Bank Cricket Club won by 60 runs. 

Mohammedan: 188 all out in 47.4 overs (Naeem 100; Farhad 3-26, Al-Amin 3-34, Reajul 2-24) 
Prime Doleshwar: 192 for 4 in 41.3 overs (Imtiaz 88, Nasir 37 not out; Ariful 2-34, Enamul 1-36)
Result: Prime Doleshwar won by six wickets.