Sports Reporter:
Dhaka Abahani Limited defeated Partex Sporting Club by seven wickets in the rain-interrupted opening match of the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Monday. Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited beat Shinepukur Cricket Club by three wickets at the BKSP Ground-4 in Savar on the same day.
Batting first Partex Sporting Club scored 120 runs for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. And then it started rain. After the ending of rain Abahani’s target was 70 in 10 overs (10 overs were curtailed due to rain).
Abahani romped home scoring 70 runs for the loss of three wickets when they had four balls to spare.
Mushfiqur Rahim played the key role for the victory of Dhanmodi based popular outfit. He remained unbeaten with 38. His 26-ball knock was studded with three fours and a sixer. Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the Man of the Match. Opener Naim Sheikh of Abahani Limited made 19 from 17 balls. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the other opener was dismissed for just two runs. Afif Hossain scored two runs playing four balls. Mosaddek Hossain remained unbeaten with six runs. He played just four balls.
Earlier, Tasammul Haque of Partex Sporting Club remained unbeaten with 65 runs. He used 54 deliveries to notch up the day’s highest score. Moeen Khan of Partex Sporting Club scored 22 runs.
Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam of Dhaka Abahani Limited bagged two wickets at the cost of 12 runs, while left-arm pacer Mahedi Hasan Rana captured two wickets at the cost of 31 runs. In the day’s other match at the BKSP Ground-4 in Savar, Shinepukur Cricket Club made 125 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. In reply, Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited reached the winning spot in the last ball of the 20th over losing seven wickets.
Parvez Hossain Emon of Mohammedan hit 39 from 33 balls. He struck four fours and a sixer. Shakib Al Hasan notched up 29 runs. He hit four fours and a sixer in his 22-ball knock.
Shamsur Rahman made 24 from 29 balls.
Abu Haider made eight (not out) and Yasin Arafat scored three ( not out).
Earlier, opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim of Shinepukur hit a run-a-ball 30, while Robiul Islam made 25 from 21 balls.
Lower-order Sumon Khan notched up 23 runs from 11 balls featuring two fours and a sixer. Robiul Islam made 25 from 21 balls, while Mahidul Islam scored 20 runs from 17 balls.
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan of Mohammedan Sporting Club bagged two wickets at the cost of 29 runs, while Yasin Arafat plucked two wickets in the space of 24 runs and Abu Jayed took one wicket for 16 runs. Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance. Meanwhile, the two DPL matches were washed out at the BKSP Ground in Savar on the same day.
The match between Legends of Rupganj was abandoned due to rain and the other DPL match between Brothers Union and Prime Doleshwar was abandoned due to heavy rain. Thus the four teams earned one point each.
