Towhid Hridoy and Saif Hasan each struck a robust fifty as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club registered a commanding seven-wicket victory against Prime Bank Cricket Club in the ingoing season of the Dhaka Premier League at BKSP-3 on Thursday.
With Hridoy hitting an unbeaten 118-ball 98 and 70 and alongside a not out 44 runs coming from Saif and Nurul Hasan Sohan, respectively, Sheikh Jamal reached the target of 248-3 in 46.4 overs in reply to 244 all out.
The victory powered the defending champions to bolster their second spot in the points table, bagging a similar 16 points from 10 matches with Abahani Limited, who are holding the top spot due to their superior run-rate.
In the day’s other two games, Abahani Limited secured a 9-run victory over Agrani Bank Cricket Club at Fatullah Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, and Legends of Rupganj beat Dhaka Leopards by a thrilling one run at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium respectively.
Prime Bank made a moderate start being sent to bat as they accounted for 73 runs, losing their top three batsmen -- Prantik Nowrose Nabil, skipper Mohammad Mithun, and Shahadat Hossain -- for 19 each and 33 runs.
Then Nasir Hossan and Mushfiqur Rahim shared a 64-run stand in the fourth wicket to take the side close to one hundred and fifty before the former fell for 34 runs.
Then, riding on Mushfiqur Rahim’s 77 off 75 balls and Mahedi Hasan’s unbeaten 30 off 28 balls, Prime Bank managed a humble total.
Ebadot Hossain was the standout bowler for the defending champions, scalping four for 41.
Chasing down a moderate target, Sheikh Jamal lost their top two batsmen, Robiul Islam and Fazle Mahmud, for 18 and 2 runs, respectively.
Then, banking on Saif, Hridoy, and Sohan, the titlists landed on the shores of their eighth victory of the meet.
Abahani opening pair Anamul Haque Bijoy and Mohammad Naim made a decent start being sent to bat at Fatullah as they went untroubled until 71 runs before the former gave a catch to the substitute fielder Jahid Javed for 28 by Sharifullah in 12.3 overs.
In coming, Najmul Hossain Shanto followed Bijoy’s steps just after an over for 2 by Asaduzzaman Payel.
Then Naim and Afif Hossain formed a crucial 68-run stand in the third wicket to overcome the early damage and pull the Sky-Blues close to the one hundred and fifty thresholds before the latter was caught to Elias Sunny for a 30-ball 31 by Azmir Ahmed, leaving them at 142-3.
Naim, who is holding the top spot among the batsmen in the competition, was dismissed in the next over after bagging his 24th List A fifty by Asaduzzaman Payel.
Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Saifuddin then made 52 and a 22-ball 33 run, respectively, to manage a competitive 267 all out.
Anamul Haque was the peak of the Agrani Bank bowlers, taking 3-57.
In reply, Agrani Bank were out of the competition after losing their top order trio for 106.
However, a 173-run stand between Marshall Ayub and Elias Sunny gave them a slim hope to register their seventh victory of the season; however, all it was in vain after the latter was run-out for 57.
Although Marshall Ayub remained unbeaten until the last delivery of the match, it was not substantial enough for Prime Bank to avoid the loss against the mighty Abahani as they were restricted to 258-6 in the stipulated overs.
Rabiul Islam and Nahidul Islam took two wickets each.
At the SBNCS, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Legends of Rupganj scored a challenging 268-8 thanks to an unbeaten 50-ball 59 from their Indian recruit Chirag Jani, along with Parvez Hossain Emon’s 52 and Sabbir Rahman Roman’s 54.
Moin Khan was the most successful bowler for the Dhaka Leopards, claiming 3-34.
Pursuing a competitive total, although Umar Amin scored an undefeated 128 runs, hitting eight fours and two maximums, and Sabbir Hossain made a 64, the Leopards failed to hold their nerve in the penultimate overs, which made them suffer a slim defeat as they were restricted to 267-7.
