Former Bangladeshi national team batsman Roqibul Hassan made his first century in the Dhaka Premier League on Monday to help Prime Doleshwar beat Victoria Sporting Club by 91 runs to keep their championship hopes alive. Roqibul made exactly 100 runs, his first List A century in almost six years, to give his side a perfect base to build a huge total of 333-5 in 50 overs before their bowlers bundled out the opponents for 242 in 45.2 overs at Fatullah.
The win took Doleshwars tally to 18 points, just two short of league leaders Abahani Limited with whom they have a pending. It means if Doleshwar win their last match convincingly and can somehow fetch two points against Abahani they will be on joint top with Abahani.
In that case run-rate will decide the league with both teams equal on head-to-head count and having equal number of wins.
Doleshwar opted to bat first but lost their opener Imtiaz Ahmed, who has been a prolific run scorer in the league, when the score was just eight.
But Roqibul steadied the innings with Rony Talukdar, who made 36 runs, through a 70-run stand before a 124-run partnership with Sachin Baby.
Roqibul eventually got out after hitting 10 fours in his 96-ball knock but Baby continued to flourish and made 64 runs.
But the Doleshwar’s total turned out to be a massive score from a mediocre one thanks to a swashbuckling 74 not out of Nasir Hossain.
The stylish batsmen needed just 42 balls to make those runs and struck nine fours and two sixes.
In reply, Victoria, who could remain in the championship race with the win, made a positive start as their openers Abdul Mazid and Jubair Ahmed made a 99-run stand.
Mazid got out for 50 but Jubair, who scored 56 runs, built another 50-run stand with Mominul Haque to keep on the chase.
Although Mominul, who showed extreme consistency throughout league despite being tagged as a Test specialist, scored 61 runs but none of the remaining batsmen could score enough so that the chase would be alive.
Sanzamul Islam was the pick of the bowler for Doleshwar with a return 0f 3-44.
Brief Scores
Prime Doleshwar SC 333-5 in 50 overs (Roqibul 100, Nasir 74 not out, Sachin 64; Marzan 2-51, Rabbi 2-69) v Victoria Sporting Club 242 in 45.2 overs (Mominul 61, Jubair 56, Mazid 50; Sanzamul 3-44, Al-Amin 2-37, Rahatul 2-47)
Result: Prime Doleshwar won by 91 runs.
Man of the match: Roqubul Hasan (Prime Doleshwar SC)
-With New Age input
