Table-toppers Mohammedan Sporting Club ended their Dhaka Premier League round-robin campaign on a high after beating Kalabagan Krira Chakra by 40 runs at Mirpur on Friday.
Mohammedan played their final game of the single round-robin stage before the Super League gets underway with the top six teams. Mohammedan finished on 14 points from 10 matches, while second-from-bottom Kalabagan have five points from nine games.
Asked to bat first after losing the toss, Mohammedan piled up a commanding 305 inspired by Ezaj Ahmed, who struck 109 runs from 120 deliveries with five fours and half a dozen sixes.
Habibur Rahman (64 off 85 balls) and Rahmat Shah (42 off 26 balls) provided able support before Mohammedan were bowled out in 49.5 overs.
The third-wicket pair of Ezaj and Habibur put on 165 runs after the Motijheel outfit encountered early trouble at 4-2 in the second over.
Kalabagan’s Sri Lankan recruit Jehan Mubarak scalped three wickets, while Shahadat Hossain and Rakibul Hasan chipped in with two wickets each.
In reply, Kalabagan came close before eventually ending their chase on 265, losing all of their wickets in 49.3 overs and falling short by 40 runs.
Mohammedan’s Rahmat was again in the thick of things as he picked up five wickets for 50 runs in 8.3 overs, while Delwar Hassan picked up two wickets.
National cricketer Naeem Islam smashed 83 off 84 balls and Bilal Shafayat (43) and Mithun Ali (41) added valuable runs at the top of the order, but Kalabagan could not capitalise from their position of strength. They were on 225-4 at one stage.
Kalabagan lost their last six wickets for 40 runs to concede the advantage and the match itself.
Five final fixtures, which will be played over two days starting from today, will conclude the round-robin stage.
Mohammedan, Gazi Tank Cricketers (12 points) and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club (12) are the three teams who have sealed their passage to the Super League ahead of the final round of games.
Kalabagan Cricket Academy (11), Prime Bank Cricket Club (10), Sheikh Jamal DC (10), Brothers Union (nine) and Victoria Sporting Club (nine) will all fight for the three remaining Super League spots.
BRIEF SCORES
Mohammedan SC v Kalabagan KC
Mohammedan SC 305 in 49.5 overs (E Ahmed 109, H Rahman 64, R Shah 42, D Ghosh 30, M Ali 26; J Mubarak 3-61, S Hossain 2-30, R Hasan 2-45) v Kalabagan KC 265 in 49.3 overs (N Islam 83, B Shafayat 43, M Ali 41; R Shah 5-50, D Hassan 2-34).
Result: Mohammedan SC won by 40 runs.
Man of the match: E Ahmed (MSC)
-With New Age input
