Table-toppers Abahani returned to the winning ways crushing lowly Orient SC by 178 runs while fellow title chasers Mohammedan Sporting Club and Bangladesh Biman also won their respective eighth round Dhaka Premier League matches on Monday.
Biman thrashed Kalabagan by 124 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium but not before a row over an umpiring decision halted the game for nearly 25 minutes during the innings of Kalabagan.
Sakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal smashed half-centuries to lead Mohammedan to an easy six-wicket win over Victoria Sporting Club at the Fatullah stadium.
Kalabagan v Biman.
Biman brought Kalabagan down to earth after they were flying high after beating Abahani in the previous game. Left-arm-spinner Mosharraf Hossain was the wrecker-in-chief with 5-23 that helped Biman dismiss Kalabagan for 102 runs after they were set a target of 227 runs.
Mosharraf was benefitted by the generosity of umpires, who rewarded him with four lbw decisions. Three of those decisions were made by umpire Morshed Ali Khan. Kalabagan did not like his third decision and their supporters protested angrily, leading the game to be suspended for a brief period.
Following the intervention of club officials, who are also actively involved with the Bangladesh Cricket Board in different capacities, the match resumed and Biman completed their fifth win.
Earlier, Pakistani Jeeshan Asif made highest 55 runs and Mushfiqur Rahim added 35 to take Biman to 226-9.
Roqibul Hassan was the only notable run-getter for Kalabagan with his 39 not out.
Mohammedan v Victoria
Chasing a target of 240 runs, Tamim Iqbal (54) and Moeen Ali ( 42) gave Mohammedan a solid platform with a 77-run opening partnership and Sakib al Hasan capitalised on it making 67 off 62 balls to steer Mohammedan to a comfortable win.
Mohammedan’s newly recruited Pakistani Azhar Mahmood was unbeaten on 19.
Earlier, Fazle Rabbi followed up his century in the previous game with 67 off 99 balls while in-form Mominul Haque added 43 not out to help Victoria post a challenging 239-5.
Abahani v Orient SC
Skipper Mahamudullah once again led Abahani from the front making 71 off 83 balls this time that took his team to 253-9 against Orient despite no other batsman crossing the half-century mark.
Mohammad Rafique brought some old tricks from his repertoire
taking 5-15 as Abahani dismissed Orient for 75 runs on their way to crushing win.
