All-rounder Muktar Ali held his nerve to hit Abahani’s Taskin Ahmed a six off the last ball of the innings to seal a thrilling four-wicket win for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the Dhaka Premier League in Mirpur on Tuesday. Taskin took the match close and nearly snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat when he conceded just two runs in first five balls of the over before Muktar ruined his all good works with the six over long on.
Jamal needed just seven runs in the last over but lost two wickets in the first two balls to put themselves under pressure. The match tilted towards Abahani’s way as Taskin, who provided just three runs in 48th over, showed tremendous control in the next three balls to leave opponents needing five runs in the last ball.
With at least a boundary required for a tie, Muktar, who claimed four-wickets in Jamal’s win in the opening match, made some room for himself and hoisted for a six that landed close to Abahani dugout.
Muktar’s six overshadowed a fine century of Mahbubul Karim, who struck 130 off 110 balls with 15 fours and five sixes to propel Jamal to their second win in as many matches as they reached 289-6 in 50 overs replying to Abahani’s 287-4.
‘It’s not for the first time I won a match against Abahani with a six off last ball,’ Muktar said after the match. I did the same two years ago when I was playing for Legends of Rupganj [Gazi Tank Cricketers]. The only difference was that Abul Hassan was the bowler on that occasion.’
Abahani captain Tamim Iqbal refused to blame bowler Taskin for the loss.
‘He bowled 11 balls at yorker length, but could not do so in the last ball and we lost. That’s cricket,’ said Tamim. ‘The match was close because of him. Otherwise we could have lost two or three overs earlier as they were batting really well.’
Tamim scored highest 90 off 91 balls with 11 fours to take Abahani to a commendable total after he won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Indian batsman Uday Kaul made 63 off 78 balls and shared an 80-run stand with Tamim for the third wicket to set up platform for the lower order to unleash some late blows.
Former Under-19 batsman Nazmul Hasan Shanto took the opportunity to hit an unbeaten 52 facing 50 balls with the help of five boundaries. Mosaddek Hossain was unbeaten on 46 off 29 balls.
Mahbubul, fresh from 78 in the last match, almost single-handedly fashioned Jamal’s run chase with his prolific innings when he did not spare any Abahani bowler. Taskin bore the brunt of his onslaught as the paceman conceded 59 runs in his first seven overs before finishing with 1-64.
Brief Scores
Abahani 287-4 in 50 overs (Tamim 90, Kaul 63, Shanto 52 not out, Mosaddek 56 not out) v Sk Jamal 289-6 in 50 overs (Mahbubul 130, Marshall 47, Nazmus 33, Mahmudullah 27; Shanto 2-39)
Result: Sheikh Jamal DC won by 4 wickets.
Man of the match: Mahbubul Karim (Sk Jamal DC)
-With New Age input
