Bangladesh national team player Sabbir Rahman made a sublime century to help his side Prime Bank Cricket Club clinching a comprehensive victory over Sheikh Jamal in their Dhaka Premier League match on Wednesday. The stylish right hander scored 100 off just 97 runs to propel his side to 318-9, before Jamal were bundled out for 25 in 46.2 overs to concede a 113-run defeat.
Sabbir arrived at the wicket after a blistering start of the openers Mehedi Maruf and Shanaj Ahmed, who made a 79-run stand off just 73 balls after being sent into bat.
Shanaj, who was eventually got out for 66, made a 61-run partnership with Sabbir before the centurion was involved with a 131-run third wicket partnership, the highest in the match with wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, who scored 63.
Sabbir dominated over the bowlers throughout his even-paced innings and reached his fifty off just 47 balls, though the 24-year old got out in the bowling of Shafiul Islam just after reaching the thee-figure mark.
He struck eight boundaries and a six in what was his first ever century in Dhaka Premier League.
‘I am happy to score the century,’ said Sabbir. ‘Whether it is in a premier league or practice scoring century is always pleasing. But I am happier because the team had won.’
‘No matter whether you consider me as an icon or senior cricketer I have to stay at the wicket. I just carried my batting with the juniors at the other end.
‘My main purpose was to carry and help my side into putting up a good total and not the century,’ he added.
Nurul and Sabbir got out in space of just two deliveries and although the remaining batsmen threw their bat at anything to add 45 runs in last four over but they lost flurry of wickets due to national all-rounder Mahmudullah.
Mahmudullah picked up his first five-for, 5-66, in list ‘A’ match, but it was not enough to restrict Prime from putting up a big total on the board.
The pressure of the run chase was evident as Jamal lost their opener Mahbubul Karim, who accumulated 209 runs in their first three matches, was out without pitting any run on the board.
Left-arm spinner Nazmul Karim, who opened the bowling along with seamer Rubel Hossain, bowled Mahbubul and picked up Abdullah al Mamun (nine) and Marshall Ayub (nine) cheaply to reduce Jamal to 20-3.
Rubel joined the fest and got rid of Sri Lankan Jevan Mendis for a duck to leave Jamal reeling on 24-4.
Jamal could never recover from that position but Mahmudullah (37) and Nazmus Sadat, who made highest 76, saved them from a bigger embarrassment with a 62-run partnership before Muktar Ali scored 40 just to reduce the margin.
Nazmul ended with 3-36 and his fellow left-arm spinner Raihan Uddin picked up 3-57.
Prime picked their third successive win after they lost their first match to Gazi Group Cricketers while Jamal lost their second consecutive match after winning the first two.
Brief Scores
Prime Bank cc 318-9 in 50 overs (Sabbir 100, Shanaj 66, Nurul 63; Mahmudullah 5-66) v Sheikh Jamal DC 205 in 46.2 overs (Nazmus 76, Muktar 40, Mahmudullah 37; Nazmul 3-36, Raihan 3-57, Sabbir 2-35).
Result: Prime Bank CC won by 113 runs.
Man of the match: Sabbir Rahman (Prime Bank CC)
-With New Age input
