Abahani off to winning start in DPL T20

Abahani Limited, Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited got off to a winning start in the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Twenty20 League 2019-20 Monday.

Batsmen Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tasamul Haque were under the limelight for their respective teams, while decent performances were recorded with the ball.

Two of the games, between Old DOHS and Legends of Rupganj and the other between Brothers Union and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club ended in no result due to rain and wet outfield at the BKSP grounds.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiq struck an unbeaten 26-ball 38 to guide Abahani to a seven-wicket win (Duckworth/Lewis method) against Partex Sporting Club in the morning at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Batting first, Partex posted 120 runs losing five wickets as top-order batsman and captain Tasamul scored an unbeaten 65 off 54 deliveries, involving nine boundaries, following the early dismissals of the openers.

Pacer Mehedi Hasan Rana and spinner Taijul Islam picked up two wickets each for Abahani.

Rain delayed the start of Abahani's chase and when the condition allowed play to resume, the Dhanmondi-based team were given 70 to chase in 10 overs.

Abahani lost opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto for two and Mohammad Naim for 19, but that did not affect the chase as Mushfiq held on to the steering hitting four boundaries and an over-boundary.

Abahani reached the shore in 9.2 overs.