Gazi Tank Cricketers regained top spot in the Dhaka Premier League points table, throwing defending champions Victoria Sporting Club out of the Super League race courtesy a crushing 114-run win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday. Brothers Union posted a crucial six-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to complete the Super League line-up as the Gopibagh outfit joined Gazi Tanks, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Prime Doleshwar, Prime Bank and Kalabagan Cricket Academy.
Prime Bank beat Khelaghar SKS by 59 runs while Kalabagan CA, who are yet to play against Prime Doleshwar, the only remaining match of the first phase, advanced as other results went in their favour.
Defeat means Victoria and Sheikh Jamal ended their campaign alongside multiple champions Abahani Limited, who barely avoided relegation with four consecutive wins, with their latest win coming against Kalabagan Krira Chakra on Saturday.
Gazi Tanks v Victoria
Defending champions Victoria had to win against Gazi Tanks to stay in contention, but chasing a modest target of 252 runs, their hope evaporated after being dismissed for a meagre 137 at Mirpur.
Jacob Oram (54) scored the only half-century while Imrul Kayes and Roqibul Hassan chipped in with identical scores of 47 as Gazi Tanks gathered 251-8 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Victoria were left reeling at 73-9 before 64 runs for the last-wicket partnership between Mohammad Sharif (58 not out) and Marjan Bhuiyan gave their innings some respectability. Arafat Sunny (4-13) and Ashar Zaidi shared seven wickets between them to torment Victoria.
Oram, who finished with 1-34, was adjudged man-of-the-match for his all-round display.
Brothers Union v Sheikh Jamal
Left-arm spinner Sohrawardi Shuvo put Brothers in pole position for a Super League berth in their must-win contest against Sheikh Jamal when his 3-29 restricted the latter to 150-8 at the low-and-slow BKSP pitch at Savar.
Junaid Siddique held one end for a long time to score 45 off 78 balls, but it was not enough to provide Brothers any competition as they reached 151-4 with nearly 13 overs to spare.
Mehrab Hossain Jr (42) and Nafees Iqbal (44) set up the win before Alok Kapali completed the formalities with his unbeaten 25 from 31 balls.
Sanjamul Islam was named man-of-the-match for his tight bowling that saw him concede just 14 runs in his quota of 10 overs for two wickets.
Prime Bank v Khelaghar
Last season’s runners-up Prime Bank went into their final first-phase match against lowly Khelaghar at Fatullah needing a win to confirm their place in the Super League.
However, despite a star-studded line-up they could only assemble 225-8 with the only half-century coming from the bat of Taiabur Parvez, who made 64 off 85 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
Saikat Ali (29), Brendan Taylor (28), Rumman Ahmed (26) and Ravi Bopara (22) were the other notable run-getters for Prime Bank.
Khelaghar were bundled out for 166 in reply as Bopara claimed 3-40. Shuvagoto Hom Chowdhury made the highest for Khelaghar, who have won just one of their 10 matches.
Abahani v Kalabagan KC
In-form batsman Naeem Islam made 86 while Tasamul Haque added 50 as Kalabagan scored 240-8 in their 50 overs batting first at the BKSP-3 ground at Savar.
Abahani faced little trouble overhauling the total thanks to 89 off 94 balls from overseas recruit Gregory Smith and an unbeaten 53 off 44 balls from Under-19 stalwart Mosaddek Hossain.
-With New Age input
