Shanto ton powers Abahani to earn easy four-wicket win in DPL Cricket
Sports Reporter:
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century powered Dhaka Abahani Limited to earn an easy four-wicket win over Legends of Rupganj in their sixth match of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Cricket at the BKSP Ground-3 in Savar on Tuesday.
Shanto hit a captain’s knock of 101. His 108-ball innings was decorated with 12 fours and two sixers. Shanto was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting display.
Sent into bat first, Legends of Rupganj piled up a massive total of 292 for the loss of six wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.
In reply, Dhaka Abahani Limited sailed home making 293 for the loss of six wickets when they had eight balls to spare. Abahani Limited had a sorrow start as opener Parvez Hossain Emon (0) was dismissed by pacer Shoriful Islam when Abahani’s score was just one.
After Emon’s dismissal, opener Jishan Alam and one-down Najmul Hossain Shanto built a remarkable partnership scoring together 107 runs in the second wicket stand before Jishan Alam was caught & bowled by Saif Hassan when Abahani’s total was 108 for the loss of two wickets.
Jishan Alam made 43 from 46 deliveries featuring five fours.
After Jishan’s dismissal, Shanto and Mohammad Mithun put on together 50 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mithun was caught behind by wicketkeeper Akbar Ali off Shoriful Islam when Abahani’s score was 158 for the loss of three wickets.
Mithun scored 34 from 37 balls including two sixes and two fours.
After Mithun’s departure, Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain scored together 48 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Shanto was bowled out by Sheikh Mahadi Hasan when Abahani’s total was 206 for the loss of four wickets.
Later, Mominul Haque and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby guided their team to anchor the victory target contributing together 43 runs for the unbroken seven wicket stand. Mominul Haque remained unbeaten with 35 runs. His 32-ball innings was belted with three fours. Rabby remained unbeaten with 31 runs. He hit two fours and two sixes in his 25-ball knock.
Earlier, opener Saif Hassan of Legends of Rupganj notched up a superb 67. His 103-ball innings was studded with eight fours.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy hit a marvelous 58. His 54-ball knock had five fours and two sixes.
Jaker Ali Anik remained unbeaten with 35. He hit three fours and a sixer in his 35-ball innings.
Mosaddek Hossain and Nahid Rana bagged a pair of wickets each conceding 57 and 71 runs respectively. Meanwhile, title aspirants Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club tasted second defeat in the DPL Cricket campaign after losing to Gazi Group Cricketers by 65 runs at the BKSP Ground-4 in Savar on the same day. It was their sixth match.
Batting first Gazi Group Cricketers made 336 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then all out Mohammedan for 271 off 48.1 overs.
Anamul Haque Bijoy of Gazi Group Cricketers hammered a terrific 149 (not out). Bijoy played 143 deliveries. He hit 12 fours and four sixes. Bijoy was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Tofael Ahmed of Gazi Group hit a windy 63, while Sadikur Rahman notched up a superb 60.
Taskin Ahmed of Mohammedan was the highest wicket taker of his team with three wickets conceding 107 runs. Rony Talukder of Mohammedan top-scored with 74 runs. His 90-ball innings was belted with four sixes and four fours. Abdul Gaffar Saqlain of Gazi Group captured four wickets instead of 59 runs.
In the day’s other match, Prime Bank Cricket Club defeated Dhanmondi Sports Club by 55 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on the same day. Put into bat first, Prime Bank piled up a mammoth total of 308 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then all out Dhanmondi for 253 off 49.5 overs.
Shamim Hossain of Prime Bank remained unbeaten with 62. He cracked six fours and two sixes in his 37-ball windy innings. He was adjudged the Man of the Match.