Local giants Abahani Limited, who have had a year to forget, secured their third consecutive win to avoid relegation from the Dhaka Premier League while Gazi Tank Cricketers stayed top despite their nine-wicket defeat to Kalabagan CA on Thursday. Once the powerhouse of domestic cricket, third-from-bottom Abahani confirmed their place in the country’s premier limited-over competition after their 27-run victory over Brothers Union landed them on six points.
Gazi Tanks remained at the summit with 12 points while in the other two matches of the day, Sheikh Jamal DC and Prime Bank Cricket Club registered wins over Khelaghar SKS and Victoria Sporting Club respectively.
Sheikh Jamal’s six-wicket triumph over Khelaghar condemned the latter to relegation with just two points after the league’s ninth round of matches.
Abahani v Brothers Union
Abahani heaved a sigh of relief after their win over Brothers at BKSP-3 at Savar enabled the former champions to avoid an embarrassing relegation.
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Abahani made a fighting 227 losing all of their wickets in 49.3 overs thanks to sensible contributions from England’s Gregory Smith (62), Shahriar Nafees (43) and Alauddin Babu (44).
Sohrawardi Shuvo was the pick of the Brothers bowlers, scalping 4-41 in his quota of 10 overs.
Chasing a target of 228 runs for victory, Brothers eventually could manage 200 before being all out in 46.1 overs as Shamsul Alam Babu took 5-37 in 10 overs for Abahani.
Gazi Tanks v Kalabagan CA
An unbroken stand of 150 for the second wicket between Abdul Majid (102) and Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza (77) guided Kalabagan to a shock nine-wicket win over table-toppers Gazi Tanks at Fatullah.
Gazi Tanks posted 204 before being all out in 49.5 overs with Imrul Kayes smashing highest 83 from 98 deliveries.
In pursuit of Gazi Tanks’ tally, Kalabagan romped to victory in 41.1 overs losing just a single wicket as Majid and Masakadza made merry of the Gazi bowlers. As many as eight bowlers were used without any success against Kalabagan.
Sheikh Jamal v Khelaghar
Away at the BKSP-2 at Savar, Sheikh Jamal, chasing Khelaghar’s 190 all out in 46.5 overs, reached their target in 35.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.
Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Munaweera struck 88 off 81 balls with the help of half a dozen fours and five sixes to lead Sheikh Jamal to victory.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Elias Sunny orchestrated Khelaghar’s collapse taking four wickets for 22 runs in 9.5 overs.
Victoria SC v Prime Bank
Prime Bank cantered to a seven-wicket win against Victoria with more than 23 overs to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Batting first, Victoria were bundled out for 134 in 40.1 overs in the face of some disciplined bowling from the Prime Bank bowlers.
Left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr (3-18) and England’s Liam Dawson (3-24) shared six wickets between them to stifle Victoria.
In reply, an unbeaten 69-ball 81 from Saikat Ali took Prime Bank to 138 in 26.1 overs for the loss of three wickets.
BRIEF SCORES
Abahani Limited v Brothers Union
Abahani Limited 227 in 49.3 overs (G Smith 62, A Babu 44, S Nafees 43, R Wessels 24, Al-Amin-2 24; S Shuvo 4-41, A Kapali 2-30) v Brothers Union 200 in 46.1 overs (Jasimuddin 33, T Samaraweera 28; SA Babu 5-37, Al-Amin 2-34).
Result: Abahani Limited won by 27 runs.
Man of the match: SA Babu (AL).
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Gazi Tank Cricketers v Kalabagan Cricket Academy
Gazi Tank 204 in 49.5 overs (I Kayes 83, A Ahmed 22, H Islam 22; Z Masud 2-23, A Mitra 2-41, M Hasan 2-41) v Kalabagan CA 207-1 in 41.1 overs (A Majid 102 not out, H Masakadza 77 not out).
Result: Kalabagan Cricket Academy won by 9 wickets.
Man of the match: A Majid (KCA).
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Victoria SC v Prime Bank CC
Victoria SC 134 in 40.1 overs (N Hossain 35, M Rahman 33, RI Shiblu 25; Enamul Jr 3-18, L Dawson 3-24) v Prime Bank CC 138-3 in 26.1 overs (S Ali 81 not out, R Ahmed 25).
Result: Prime Bank CC won by 7 wickets.
Man of the match: Enamul Haque Jr (PBCC).
-With New Age input
