Abahani Limited’s freefall continued as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, while Mohammedan lost their third match in a row and Prime Doleshwar had their four-game winning streak snapped in the Dhaka Premier League action on Wednesday.
Abahani lost to Prime Bank by 120 runs at Fatullah to remain winless since their opening game triumph against minnows Cricket Coaching School and they stay in 10th place in the 12-team league.
Mohammedan, who had reeled off three straight wins to begin the league before their recent slump, lost to Gazi Tank Cricketers by 103 runs in Bogra and fell into seventh place after topping the table just a week earlier.
Prime Doleshwar’s nine-wicket loss to Victoria SC after a stunning batting collapse at BKSP-3 ended their hold on the league’s top spot. Victoria now lead with nine points, one more than a pack of five teams on eight, though Brothers Union and Sheikh Jamal each have a game in hand.
Prime Bank CC v Abahani Ltd
Two fifties from Saikat Ali (59) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (69), who put on 82 for the second wicket, and Lahiru Thirimanne (52) helped take Prime Bank to 272/9 after they won the toss and elected to bat at Fatullah.
But a loss of wickets at regular intervals threatened to cut the Prime Bank innings short, but a 30-ball cameo from number ten Taposh Baishya (39 not out) allowed his team to bat out their stipulated overs and post a strong total.
Tharanga Paranavitana took 3/39 for Abahani, while Nabil Samad and Shamsul Alam Babu took two wickets apiece.
Al Amin Hossain, whose 18 wickets in the league earned him a call-up to the national team on Wednesday for the series against New Zealand, had his worst outing of the season as he coughed up 62 runs without taking a wicket in nine overs.
Abahani’s chase lasted just 36 overs, as four wickets by Prime Bank captain Enamul Haque Jr, who was named the man of the match, and three from Fariduddin Masud crippled any chances the Dhanmondi team may have had of ending their losing streak. Rezaul Karim also picked up two wickets in the 30th over as Abahani were dismissed for a paltry 152 runs.
Batsman Mohammed Al Amin was the top-scorer for Abahani with 28 runs, while Al Amin Hossain added 21 at number 11 with the result already a foregone conclusion.
Gazi Tank Cricketers v
Mohammedan SC
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad scored 68 and man-of-the-match Roqibul Hassan scored 75 off 65 balls as Gazi Tanks posted 248/9 after being put in to bat at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.
The pair put on 94 runs for the fifth wicket to steady the innings after former New Zealand international Scott Styris was dismissed for 30 to leave Gazi Tanks on 95/4 in the 28th over.
Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis took four wickets – including three in the final over – but went for 57 runs in his 10 overs, while Mashrafee bin Murtaza took 2/38 for Mohammedan.
A balanced effort from the Gazi Tanks bowling attack, led by Pakistani Ashar Zaidi’s 3/30, never allowed Mohammedan to threaten the target. Mahmudullah followed up his work with the bat by taking 2/27 in 8.4 overs, while Arafat Sunny picked up a wicket and conceded just 22 runs in his nine overs.
Upul Tharanga (56) scored his team’s lone half-century and opener Ejaz Ahmed added 42, but the rest of the line-up failed to make an impression as Mohammedan were bundled out 145 in 38.4 overs and fell to their third straight defeat.
Prime Doleshwar SC v
Victoria SC
Prime Doleshwar’s hopes of making it five wins in row were quickly dashed after their decision to bat first at BKSP-3 backfired. Victoria’s Soumya Sarker and Shalika Karunanayake took three wickets each as Prime Doleshwar capitulated for just 85 runs in 26 overs.
Number nine Sohag Gazi scored 26 not out as one of just three batsmen to reach double figures. The 15 extras conceded by Victoria’s bowlers were the second highest contribution to the innings score.
The win puts Victoria in first place with nine points from six matches, including a point from their abandoned opening fixture against Kalabagan Cricket Academy.
Prime Doleshwar are one of five teams in second place with eight points, though Brothers Union and Sheikh Jamal will each have a chance to move to the top of the table when they play their round six matches on Friday. Prime Doleshwar, Prime Bank and Gazi Tanks have already played six matches.
BRIEF SCORES
Gazi Tank Cricketers v Mohammedan SC
Gazi Tank Cricketers 248-9 in 50 overs (R Hasan 75, Mahmudullah 68, S Styris 30, A Zaidi 17; A Mendis 4-57, M bin Murtaza 2-38) v Mohammedan SC 145 in 38.4 overs (U Tharanga 56, E Ahmed 42, A Zaidi 3-30, Mahmudullah 2-27).
Result: Gazi Tank Cricketers won by 103 runs.
Man of the match: R Hasan (GTC)
****
Prime Bank CC v Abahani Limited
Prime Bank CC 272-9 in 50 overs (B Rajapaksa 69, S Ali 59, L Thirimanne 52, T Boishya 39 not out; T Paranavitana 3-39, N Samad 2-36, SA Babu 2-40) v Abahani Limited 152 in 35.5 overs (Al-Amin-2 28, N Samad 19 not out, Nazimuddin 17; Enamul Haque jr 4-43, F Masud 3-34, R Karim 2-9).
Result: Prime Bank CC won by 120 runs.
Man of the match: Enamul Haque Jr (PBCC).
*****
Victoria SC v Prime Doleshwar SC
Prime Doleshwar SC 85 in 26 overs (S Gazi 26 not out; S Sarker 3-25, S Karunanayake 3-29) v Victoria SC 88-1 in 14.3 overs (A Haque 45 not out, S Karunanayake 33 not out).
Result: Victoria SC won by 9 wickets.
Man of the match: S Karunanayake (VSC)
-With New Age input
