Contrasting fifties from Liton Das and Towhid Hridoy led Abahani Limited to a comprehensive five-wicket victory against Prime Bank Cricket Club in their first match of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Super League phase today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Having won the game, Abahani completed its 12th straight victory, including winning all 11 matches in the group phase, which helped them make a giant stride towards the coveted trophy.
Under shimmering heat, Abahani bowlers bowled well in tandem to bundle Prime Bank out for just 178 runs in 39.2 overs with pacer Shoriful Islam continuing his impressive form, claiming 3-27 after his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and sent the opponents to bat first.
Another fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam and off spinner Mosaddek Hossain Saikat snapped up two wickets apiece to play a perfect foil to Shoriful, leaving Prime Bank in tatters.
Liton Das was not out 56 off 106 after hitting seven boundaries but Towhid Hridoy put the bowlers on sword to hammer 55 off just 27, smashing four fours and five sixes as Abahani hunted down the total by reaching 183-5 in 38.3 overs.
Prime Bank captain Zakir Hasan played a captain's knock after top three batters were dismissed in single digit figure, failing to deal with Abahani's pacers properly.
Zakir made 68 off 70 with eight fours and one six and got some support from senior batter Mushfiqur Rahim who added 44. Their knocks proved to be decisive in propelling the side past 150 as Abahani bowlers made inroads at regular intervals.
Abahani lost opener Anamul Haque Bijoy after he made 22 but Liton Das and captain Shanto added 52-run for the second wicket stand to steady the innings.
Shanto however failed to prolong his innings as he was removed for 22 while Afif Hossain was out on a single digit figure to leave Abahani to 97-3.
Liton who was out of form kept one end intact but Abahani shifted the momentum towards them, thanks to Towhid Hridoy whose whirlwind batting dented any kind of hopes of Prime Bank to produce an upset.
