Mashrafe fans saw a new look Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as the former Tigers pacer was seen to bowl spin balls rather than pace in the third round of the Super League episode of the Dhaka Premier League for Legends of Rupganj against their Abahani Limited counterpart at BKSP-3 on Sunday.
Bangladesh's former national team skipper also the highest wicket taker among all pacers for the landscape in the one-day internationals, scalping 269 wickets from 218 games was finished with 1-41 against the table toppers in his seven overs where he didn’t deliver a single pace delivery.
After suffering the defeat against the former champions Abahani, Mashrafe led Rupganj are holding the third spot in the points table with 18 points from 14 games, bagging nine victories along with five losses.
In the tie, Rupganj made a staggering start, losing their top three batsmen for 35-3 inside the power play.
Openers Munim Sharia and Pervez Hossain Emon were dismissed for 2 and 10 by Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nahidul Islam, respectively, followed by Sabbir Rahman for 8 by Ripon Mondol.
Although Rupgan’s Indian recruit Chirag Jani and his partner Jawad Royen shared a crucial 81 run stand to curb the early damage, the duo couldn’t extend their innings as the former was run out for 50 off 51 as the top score while the latter fell to Mondol on 46.
Then, riding on Mashrafe’s 22-ball 26, Rupganj managed a moderate 230 all-out in 47.2 overs.
Ripon Mondol was the standout bowler for the Sky Blues, claiming 4-45.
In reply, Abahani reached the target thanks to Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s 67 and Mohammd Naim’s run-a-ball 56, along with 33 each from Anamul Haque and Afif Hossain.
Muktar Ali was the peak of the Rupganj bowlers, picking up 3-38, while Mashrafe, Abdul Halim, and Tanbir Hyder scalped one wicket each.
With the win, Abahani continued their dominance in the points table, bagging 26 points from 14 ties.
In the day’s other game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club registered a 13-run victory over Prime Bank Cricket Club to bolster their second spot in the points table with 24 points from the same number of games.
Opener Saif Hasan’s 83 off 102 balls and 53 from skipper Nurul Hasan fueled the titlist to make 276-6.
Prime Bank’s Pakistani recruit Kashif Bhatti was the most successful bowler for the side, taking 3-23.
Pursuing a competitive total, Mohammad Mithun led Prime Bank were bowled out for 262, with Prantik Nawrose Nabil hitting the highest 75 and Shahadat Hossain scoring 66 runs.
Shafiqul Islam was the highest among the Sheikh Jamal bowlers, claiming 3-44.
At the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah Mohammedan Sporting Club scripted a 20-run win over Gazi Group Cricketers after suffering the initial two ties of the Super League that guided them to secure the fifth position, surpassing Gazi Group in the table with 15 points from a similar number of ties.
