Gazi Group Cricketers clinched their first-ever title of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League despite losing to Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in their last super league match by six wickets at the BKSP ground-3 in Savar on Tuesday.
On conclusion of all 16 league matches, three teams -Dhaka Abahani Limited. Gazi Group Cricketers and Prime Doleshwar SC-have secured 24 points each, but as per league by laws, the winner was decided through head-to-head matches between the three teams.
Finally, Gazi Group Cricketers emerged champions with three wins of those matches. Prime Doleshwar SC finished runners-up for the 3rd successive season with two wins while Abahani Limited became third with only one match among the matches.
Actually, Gazi Group started their celebration of winning maiden league crown on Monday when Abahani Limited defeated Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at BKSP ground-4 in Savar.
The Gazi Group-Prime Doleshwar match started on Monday but incessant rain left the outfield wet and rolled the match to the reserved day (Tuesday) when Gazi Group scored 145 for 5 in 33 overs and finally they were bowled out for 222 in 49.1 overs on Tuesday.
Number six batsman Jahurul Islam, who was on batting with 50 runs, contributed the team highest a run-a-ball 87, featuring seven fours and two sixes.
Besidesd, one down Mominul Haque (38), Nadif Chowdhury (38) and Suhrawady Shuvo (15) were the other notable scorers for Gazi Group.
Farhad Reza grabbed three wickets for 31 runs while Arafat Sunny, Sharifullah and Delwar Hossain took two wickets each.
In reply, Prime Doleshwar SC, riding on Indian Puneet Bisht’s unbeaten 89 runs, easily reached their target scoring 224 runs for 4 in 44.3 overs.
Puneet furnished his 91-ball 89 runs innings with 11 fours. He contributed 59 runs in the 4th wicket stand with Marshall Ayub (39 runs) and another 119 runs for the unbroken 5th wicket stand with Sharifullah, who made not out 51 off 78 balls. Later, Bisht was adjudged the man of the match.
Mominul Haque, Hossain Ali, AA Kazi and Mehdei Hassan took one wicket a piece.
In the day’s another league match, Prime Bank Cricket Club completed their league campaign with a six-wicket victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club in Fatullah and finished the league in the 4th slot securing 20 points from 16 encounters.
Batting first, Mohammedan were all out for 215 in 49.4 overs after resuming the reserve day on 187 for 6 in 43.3 overs. Nazmul Hossain Milon struck a run-a-ball 53 with two sixes and as many fours. Pacer Al-Amin Hossain wiped out the tail and finished with 4 for 35.
In reply, Prime Bank CC reached their target losing four wickets in 43.5 overs with two don Rafatullah Mohammad hammering 129-ball 88 runss with six fours and three sixes to be adjudged man of the match.
Opener Mehedy Maruf walked off with an injury before scoring 57 off 65 balls with four fours and three sixes and Asif Ahmed who finished the chase off with 37 balls to spare.
Mohammedan SC finished 5th with 16 points while and Sheikh Jamal DC finished 6th and bottom with 14 points. playing 16 matches each.
Top performers of Premier Cricket League’ 2017 are:
Highest scorer: Liton Das (Abahani) – 752 runs
Highest score: Raqibul Hasan (Mohammedan) – 190 off 138 balls vs Abahani
Highest wicket-taker: Abu Hider (Gazi Group) – 35 wickets
Best bowling figures: Tanvir Islam (Khelaghar) – 6 for 18 vs Partex
