A quickfire opening-wicket partnership by Dilshan Munaweera and Junaid Siddiqui propelled Sheikh Jamal to the summit of the Dhaka Premier League standings, while Gazi Tank Cricketers joined them at the top after overcoming Abahani Limited on Monday.
Sheikh Jamal romped to a resounding eight-wicket win over Prime Bank Cricket Club in Bogra, while Abahani fell to their sixth defeat of the campaign against Gazi Tanks at Fatullah.
Away at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan at Savar, Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated Victoria Sporting Club by 42 runs.
Sheikh Jamal v Prime Bank
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Prime Bank posted 200 all out in 46.4 overs. Ravi Bopara was the highest scorer for Prime Bank with 74 runs from 78 balls in an innings studded with a dozen boundaries.
Bopara was ably supported by Taiabur Parvez, who was unbeaten at the end on 48 from 82 balls.
Sheikh Jamal’s Afghan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib scalped 4-31, while Munaweera (2-26), Elias Sunny (2-34) and Nahidul Islam (2-23) shared six wickets between them to bundle out Prime Bank.
In reply, Sheikh Jamal took just 29.5 overs to canter to their target, losing just two wickets. Sri Lankan opening batsman Munaweera (95 off 57 balls) and Junaid (74* off 79 balls) shared a 130-run stand for the opening wicket inside 17 overs to take the Dhanmondi side to the brink of victory.
Munaweera struck 15 fours and three sixes in his whirlwind knock, while Junaid hit five boundaries and two sixes. Munaweera was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round effort.
Abahani Limited v Gazi Tank Cricketers
In a 49-over game, Abahani succumbed to their sixth league defeat in seven matches as Gazi Tanks registered a 13-run win. Batting first after losing the toss, Gazi Tanks were dismissed for 189 in 49 overs with Rakibul Hasan top scoring with 42 runs from 64 balls.
Chasing 190 for victory, Abahani were restricted to 176-8 in 49 overs. Former New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram was the wrecker-in-chief, taking 3-39. He was supported well by Nayeem Islam Jr, who chipped in with two wickets.
Oram was adjudged the man of the match.
Controversy surrounded the game as members of the Gazi Tanks team claimed that they were on the receiving end of six wrongly-given leg before decisions, five of which were given by one umpire.
Mohammedan Sporting Club v Victoria Sporting Club
Mohammedan batted first and were all out for 240 in 50 overs with Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga smashing 73 off 62 balls.
In reply, Victoria were bundled out for 198 in 45.1 overs, with Murad Khan taking 3-26 and Mashrafee bin Murtaza taking 2-25.
Brief Scores
Abahani Limited v Gazi Tank Cricketers
Gazi Tank 189 in 49 overs (R Hasan 42, I Kayes 39, S Styris 30; Al-Amin-2 3-27, N Samad 2-28, ZD Bruyn 2-39, A Babu 2-40) v Abahani Limited 176-8 in 49 overs (T Kandambi 44, Al-Amin-2 37, A Babu 24; J Oram 3-39, Shahid 2-39, Naeem Islam Jr 2-41).
Result: Gazi Tank Cricketers won by 13 runs.
Man of the match: J Oram (GTC)
*****
Victoria SC v Mohammedan SC
Mohammedan SC 240 in 50 overs (U Tharanga 73, S Rahman 44, E Ahmed 44, R Saleh 25; M Hossain 4-50) v Victoria SC 198 in 45.1 overs (S Sarker 57, M Siriwardana 43, Rasel Al Mamun 32; M Khan 3-26, M Ali 2-18, Mashrafee Murtaza 2-25, A Gunaratne 2-39).
Result: Mohammedan SC won by 42 runs.
Man of the match: U Tharanga (MSC).
*****
Prime Bank CC v Sheikh Jamal DC
Prime Bank CC 200 in 46. 1 overs (R Bopara 74, T Parvez 48, T Boishya 26, B Rajapaksa 25; G Naib 4-31, N Islam 2-23, D Munaweera 2-26, E Sunny 2-34) v Sheikh Jamal DC 203-2 in 29.5 overs (D Munaweera 95, J Siddique 74 not out, J Islam 22; T Parvez 2-35).
Result: Sheikh Jamal DC won by 8 wickets.
Man of the match: D Munaweera (SJDC)
-With New Age input
