The title race in the Dhaka Premier League is set for a thrilling finale after Prime Bank Cricket Club and Prime Doleshwar SC won their respective matches in the penultimate round on Friday. Fellow contenders Abahani Limited, on the other hand, were thrown out of the race by Kalabagan Cricket Academy, who won a cliffhanger by one-wicket at Mirpur. All-rounder Farhad Reza scored a blistering half-century to set up 20-run win for Prime Bank while Doleshwar thrashed holders Legends of Rupganj by eight wickets to record their fourth consecutive win.
Prime Bank, who have now 24 points from 15 matches will be crowned champions if they beat Abahani while Doleshwar, with two points behind, must beat Mohammedan and wait Prime to slip in their respective last match.
Prime Bank CC v Mohammedan SC
Mohammedan captain Masharfee bin Murtaza starred with bat and ball to take 4-40 and score 62 off 76 balls but they were not enough for Mohammedan to stop Prime Bank’s title push.
Prime’s number eight batsman Farhad stole the limelight with his 76 off 56 balls, which propelled the side to 230 all out in 49.4 after a modest start.
After eighth wicket fell for 190, Farhad made a mockery of Mohammedan bowling adding 40 off 16 balls to give his side a fighting score.
Mohammedan’s start also was not that great with Mahmudullah (3-33) and other spinners reducing them to 91-6 before Ariful Haque and Mashrafee shared 110 runs for the seventh wicket to keep the game alive as contest.
Farhad broke their resistance to remove Mashrafee for 62 and returned in his next over to dismiss Ariful for 61 and Mohammedan collapsed immediately.
Mohammedan lost their last four wickets for 10 runs to be dismissed for 210 runs to give Prime an easy win in the end.
Abahani Limited v Kalabagan CA
Nasir Hossain continued to remind the selectors his class and form by hitting 104 off 98 balls but unfortunately it was not enough to keep Abahani alive in the title race.
Sabbir Rahman, Nasir’s main competitor for the number seven slot in World Cup squad, outshone the right-hander, albeit with the ball as he grabbed 6-43 to restrict Abahani to 247-9.
Sabbir’s figure is second best in the league after Legends of Rupganj spinner Naeem Islam Jr’s 6-33 against Partex SC.
In form Mahmudul Hasan led KCA’s batting charge with 82 off 107, his sixth fifty in the league. Irfan Sukkur struck an unbeaten 44 not out from 39 balls after Mahmudul’s departure with the side still needing 28 off 17 balls.
KCA finally reached 248-9 with one ball left to knock Abahani off the title race.
Prime Doleshwar v Legends of Rupganj
Mehedi Maruf did not let Prime Doleshwar to feel the absence of their injured skipper Mushfiqur Rahim hitting a brilliant 118 off 119 balls to script an easy eight-wicket win.
Set an easy target after their bowlers had restricted Legends to 221-9, Doleshwar reached 224-2 with Maruf leading the way. He shared 135 runs for the third wicket with Mominul Haque, who was not out on 56.
Earlier, Legends captain Sakib al Hasan made a bold decision to
open the innings but could score only 28.
Only a late impetus from Abul Hossain (51 off 56 balls) and Nazmul Milon (42 off 52) gave them a competitive total.
-With New Age input
