Abahani lift 19th Premier title in style
Title aspirants Abahani Limited saw their batsmen hits impressive form as they romped home in a grand style by 94 runs against Legends of Rupganj to lift the coveted 19th Dhaka Premier League title at BKSP, Savar on Thursday.
Both teams came in the match knowing that a win will see them lift DPCL crown and league leaders Abahani saw their skipper Nasir Hossain and opening batsman Nazmul Hasan Shanto smashed centuries allowing their team to set an improbable 374 runs target, BSS reported.
Legends of Rupganj found the target too steep as their batsmen made some valiant efforts but in the end they were bowled out for 282 runs in 42.4. overs.
Rupganj skipper Naeem Islam won the toss and surprisingly invited his opponents to bat first. Abahani openers Anamul Haque and Nazmul Hasan got off to a flier for their team as they posted 92 runs for the first wicket partnership in only 12 over.
Anamul looked to be in good touch as he slammed 51-ball 57 and then Rupganj bowlers struck again twice in a row to reduce Abahani to 123 for 3 in 19th overs. At that moment it looked Rupganj has made a comeback with Anamul, Abahani's Indian signing Hanuma Bihari and Mithun Ali back in the pavilion.
But skipper Nasir Hossain Nazmul Hossain were in no mood to spoil the wonderful start given by their openers. They produced an immaculate a 187-run fourth-wicket partnership to take Abahani out of troubled water and put their team on the brink of a mammoth total and the task was later completed by the late middle-order batsmen.
Man of the match Nasir was in blistering form on the way to his majestic 129 studded with 15 fours and four sixes in his a 91-ball knock. Nazmul Hossain Shanto used 107-ball for his 113 runs and smashed eleven boundaries and one sixer.
After their departure Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's cameo eight-ball 28, where he hit four sixes and Mossadek Hossain 14-ball 19 runs saw them put on 30 runs off 10 ball for the unfinished seventh wicket partnership as Abahani finished on 374 for 6 in their 50 overs. Parvez Rasool with three for 42 was the leading Rupganj bowler.
In reply, Rupganj batsmen made effort to haul the big target but on the way continue to lose wickets at regular interval and were finally bowled out for 280 in 42.4 overs.
Mohammad Naim struck a 54-ball 70 at the top of the innings before he was bowled by Nasir. Captain Naeem Islam struck 76 while national wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim clobbered 66 balls for his 67 but their efforts were not enough as Abahani bowlers kept them at bay to bowl them out for 280 to clinch the title on the last day.
Mehidy Hasan Miraj, Sunzamul Islam, Sandip Roy and Nasir Hossain chipped in with two wickets each for Abahani.
