The fifth round of the Dhaka Premier League saw convincing wins for Brothers Union and Kalabagan Krira Chakra at different venues on Monday while the heavyweight clash between Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club was rained off.
Brothers cantered to a nine-wicket win over Kalabagan Cricket Academy at Fatullah inspired by brilliant displays from Zimbabwean all-rounder Sean Williams and Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal.
Away at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan at Savar, Mithun Ali showed the way with a 64-ball 78 as Kalabagan Krira Chakra registered a comfortable 116-run victory over Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity.
Meanwhile, the other tie of the day between Abahani and Sheikh Jamal was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Brothers Union v Kalabagan Cricket Academy
With rain playing foul in both the day’s completed matches, the game was reduced to a 34-over-a-side affair as Kalabagan batted first after losing the toss.
A hat-trick by Sean Williams enabled Brothers to bowl out Kalabagan for 148 runs in 32.1 overs with the Zimbabwean accounting for seven wickets conceding 25 runs in his seven overs.
After sending back opener Mizanur Rahman (20) in his opening over, Williams dismissed fellow countryman Vusi Sibanda (25) and Marshal Ayub (nought) in his third over.
In the final two deliveries of his fourth over, Williams scalped the wickets of another compatriot Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 39 from 27 balls, and Sahagir Hossain for nought.
Williams notched his hat-trick with the first ball of his fifth over when he sent back yet another Zimbabwe teammate, Sikandar Raza (three). He completed the demolition act by dismissing Nazmul Apu for nought.
In reply, Brothers romped to 154-1 in 22.3 overs courtesy of captain Tamim Iqbal, who blasted an unbeaten 95 from just 65 deliveries. Tamim’s quickfire innings was studded with half a dozen boundaries and seven sixes.
At the other end, Tamim’s brother Nafees Iqbal was unbeaten on 36 from 49 balls. The siblings shared an unbroken stand of 129 runs for the second wicket to guide Brothers to the top of the points table with eight points, alongside newcomers Prime Doleshwar.
Williams was adjudged the man of the match.
Kalabagan Krira Chakra v Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity
Opening batsman Mithun Ali scored a fine 64-ball 78 as Kalabagan posted an emphatic 116-run win against Khelaghar.
Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, Kalabagan scored 248-7 in 31 overs as rain forced the match to be curtailed. Mithun struck six fours and five sixes and he was ably supported by Sri Lanka’s Jehan Mubarak (69 off 64 balls). Chamara Kapugedera added the finishing touch by hitting 58 from 33 balls.
Chasing the target, Khelaghar could garner only 132-7 in 31 overs to fall short by 116 runs. This was Khelaghar’s fifth defeat in as many matches.
Mubarak was named man of the match.
BRIEF SCORES
Sheikh Jamal DC v Abahani Limited
Result: Match abandoned.
***
Kalabagan KC v Khelaghar SKS
Kalabagan KC 248-7 in 31 overs (M Ali 78, J Mubarak 69, K Chamara 58, N Islam 21; A Al Imran 3-30, M Khan 2-41) v Khelaghar SKS 132-7 in 31 overs (Forkan 30 not out, M Khan 21, F Hossain 15; D Lokuhettige 3-12, J Mubarak 2-24).
Result: Kalabagan KC won by 116 runs.
Man of the match: J Mubarak (KKC).
***
Brothers Union v Kalabagan CA
Kalabagan CA 148 in 32.1 overs (H Masakadza 39, Sharifullah 30, V Sibanda 25, D Sabbir 20; SC Williams 7-25, A Mathews 2-25) v Brothers Union 154-1 in 22.3 overs (T Iqbal 95 not out, N Iqbal 36 not out).
Result: Brothers Union won by 9 wickets.
Man of the match: SC Williams (BU).
-With New Age input
