In the battle of Titans, Dhaka Mohammedan SC outplayed their traditional rivals Abahani Limited by eight wickets with 37 balls remaining to keep their top slot intact in the Walton Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League at the home Bangladesh cricket — Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium — in Mirpur on Thursday.
With the well merited victory, Dhaka Mohammedan SC took the solo lead in the league table securing 10 points from six matches while Abahani went down with six points from six encounters.
Sent in to bat first, national opener Tamim Iqbal-led Abahani were all out for 183 runs in 48.4 overs losing wickets on a regular interval.
After the departure of top three batsmen — Tamim Iqbal (4), Liton Das (3) and Avishek Mitra (7) — cheaply for 15 runs in 5.3 overs, Ahabani made two small partnerships in the 4th wicket and 8th wicket stand, but failed to make a good total.
Number five Nazmul Hossain Shanta pairing with Indian batsman Manvinder Bisla tried their best to repair the early damage contributing 47 runs in the 4th wicket stand and later pacer Taskin Ahmed pairing with Abul Hasan added 51 runs in the 8th wicket stand.
Shanta contributed 42 runs off 66 balls, including five fours, while MS Bisla scored 33-ball 23 runs with three fours, lower order Taskin made an unbeaten 38 runs off 49 balls with three fours and one six, Abul Hasan made 56-ball 28 runs with one four and six and Mosaddek Hossain scored 46-ball 27 runs with one four.
Right arm medium pacer Subashis Roy grabbed three wickets for 34 runs in his 10 overs spell with two maidens and was adjudged man of the match.
Habibur Rahman and Naeem Islam Jr took two wickets each conceding 30 runs each.
Chasing a target of 184 runs, Mohammedan SC, riding on unconquered 77 runs by Sri Lanka batsman Upal Tharanga, reached their target scoring 185 runs for 2 in 43.5 overs.
Thirty-one-year-old one down left handed Sri Lankan batsman Upal Tharanga furnished 105-ball 77 runs innings with seven boundaries.
Opener Ejaz Ahmed (42), number five Naeem Islam (not out 25), skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (17) and another opener Saikat Ali (13) were the other major contributors for Mohammedan SC.
Amith Kumar and national pacer Taskin Ahmed and took one wicket each conceding 34 and 42 runs respectively.
