Prime Bank Cricket Club emerged as the new champions in the prestigious Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League beating Dhaka Abahani Limited by nine wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
In the other super league matches on the day, Prime Doleshwar SC beat Dhaka Mohammedan SC by three wickets at BKSP ground in Savar while Kalabagan Cricket Academy defeated Legends of Rupganj by 38 runs at Khan Shaheb Oman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
On completion of all the 16 league matches, Prime Bank CC secured 26 points to be the champions while Prime Doleshwar SC finished runners-up with 24 points.
Abahani Limited and Kalabagan Cricket Academy collected 20 points each from 16 matches, but in net run rate Abahani Limited became 3rd (0.442) while Kalabagan Cricket Academy finished 4th (0.386).
Mohammedan SC and Legends of Rupganj completed their league engagements securing 16 points each from 16 matches.
Sent in to bat first in the title-decider at Mirpur, Abahani Limited, which was out of the title-race earlier, were bundled out cheaply for 160 runs in 44.2 overs against Prime Bank CC.
All rounder Nasir Hossain, who was included in the Bangladesh World Cup squad, scored the team highest 55 runs off 69 balls with six fours, opener Liton Kumar made 39, Mosaddek Hossain 22 and Ziaur Rahman 20 for Abahani Ltd.
All rounder Forhad Reza made major damage in Abahani innings grabbing four wickets for just 17 runs, Enamul Haque Jr and Soumya Sarker bagged two wickets each conceding 25 and 36 runs respectively.
Chasing a small target of 161 runs, Prime Bank CC easily reached their ultimate goal scoring 163 runs for the loss of one wicket in only 27.3 overs.
Opener Soumya Sarker, who has also found a spot in the Bangladesh’s World Cup squad, quick-fired an impressive 97 runs off 91 balls, featuring seven fours and seven sixes for the bankers team in addition to his two-wicket haul and was adjudged man of the match.
Another opener Saikat Ali contributed an unconquered 58 runs off 72 balls including seven boundaries while one down Nurul Hasan remained not out on four runs playing three balls with a boundary.
Abdul Majid took the lone wicket of Soumya Sarker giving away 16 runs.
In Fatullah, Kalabagan Cricket Academy batted first after winning the toss and piled up a comfortable 288 runs for 3 in reduced 45 over-a-side match.
National opener Anamul Haque Bijoy played an entertaining innings of unbeaten 150 runs off 146 balls hitting seven fours and 10 sixes for Kalabagan CA and was adjudged man of the match.
Nafees Iqbal, elder brother of national opener Tamim Iqbal, scored 52, opener Imtiaz Hossain 42 and national all rounder Sabbir Rahman 36 runs for the Academy team.
In reply, Legends of Rupganj, without Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, fought hard, but were forced to fold their innings at 250 for 6 in 45 overs with Junaid Siddique making 50, Nazmul Milon not out 43 and Faisal Hossain 35 runs.
At BKSP, sent in to bat first, Mohammedan SC scored 220 for 9 in allocated 50 overs with Mohammad Mithun scoring 45, Saim Alam 40 and Naeem Islam 40 runs.
Asif Ahmed and national coloured pacer Shafiul Islam took three wickets each conceding 29 and 37 runs respectively.
In reply, Prime Doleshwar SC reached their target making 223 runs for 7 in 48.5 overs with Rony Talukder scoring 63 runs, to be adjudged man of the match, and Mehedi Maruf 58 runs.
Mohammad Nabi claimed two wickets for 30 runs.
