Mahidul Islam Ankon and Imrul Kayes each struck a fifty that guided Mohammedan to confirm a spot in the Super League as they beat the Dhaka Leopards by five wickets in the last encounter of the league phase of the Dhaka Premier League at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, on Monday.
Ankon made 96, while Imrul finished with 58, to reach the target of 232-5 in 46.5 overs in reply to 228-9.
In the day’s other two games, the Rupganj Tigers scripted a 56-run victory over Brothers Union, and the Gazi Group Cricketers thrashed Shinepukur Cricket Club by 156 runs to secure a place in the last six of the meet at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and BKSP-3, respectively.
Although the Leopards made a cautious start, bringing 44 runs without any damage in 10.2 overs, they found life tough as the time went on because, following the departure of opener Shovon Morol for 30, they lost their next two batsmen, who fell inside the succeeding eight overs that limited them at 74-3.
Although Ashikur Rahman and Sabbir Hossain tried to overcome the early damage by sharing 96 runs in the fourth wicket stand, it was in vain after the former fell to Enamul Haque Jr. for the top with 48.
Then, banking on Sabbir’s 34-ball 35 and Sohrawradi Shuvo’s 39 leopards, he posted a humble total.
Mahedi Hasan Miraz and Jake Lintott took two wickets each.
Chasing down the moderate total, the Mohameddan made a staggering start, losing their opener Abdul Mazid for a golden duck, but rebounded after Imrul and Ankon shared an 82-run stand to stitch the inning before the former was excluded by Shuvo, who bagged his 45th List A fifty.
In the next stand, veteran Mohammad Mohammad Ashraful, who made his first appearance of the season, formed a crucial 52-run stand with Ankon before he was removed for 27 off 36 balls, leaving the Black and Whites on 139-3.
The rest was done by Ankon and Miraz, who shared 65 runs in the fifth wicket to pull Mohammedan to the shores of victory.
Ankon eventually got dismissed by Ridoy Islam in 45.3 overs, while Miraz stood on 35 off 50 balls.
Ariful Islam was the most successful bowler for the Leopards, scalping 2-46.
At the SBNCS, the Rupganj Tigers amassed a challenging 307 thanks to a 45-ball 81 from Alauddin Babu, along with 64 off 65 and 53 from Ankit Bawne and Shamim Hossain Patwary, respectively.
Manik Khan was the standout bowler for Brothers Union, claiming 5-50.
Pursuing a challenging total, Brothers Union were all out for 251 in 42.2 overs.
Anisul Islam Emon was the highest scorer with 52 off 55 balls, while Arafat Sunny Jr. finished with 51 off 41 balls.
Nayeem Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, and Sunzamul Islam picked up two wickets each.
At BKSP-3, with Habibur Rahman Sohan hitting his maiden List A hundred [101] and Ravi Teja, SM Mehrob making 90 and 48 runs, respectively, propelled the Gazi Group to a mammoth 333-8.
Masum Khan was the peak of the Shinepukr bowlers, picking up 3- 58.
In reply, Shinepukur could manage 177 all-out in 37.1 overs, thanks to 69 and 40 from Tahjibul Islam and Amite Hasan, respectively.
Mohammad Enamul claimed 4 while Mahmudul Hasan took three.
