Abahani all-rounder Saifuddin contributed with both bat and ball as the Sly Blues made it three in a row after beating Prime Bank by just eight runs
Abahani Limited bagged a hat-trick of Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League titles defeating Prime Bank Cricket Club in their final Super League game at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Saturday.
Abahani all-rounder Saifuddin contributed with both bat and ball as the Sly Blues made it three in a row after beating Prime Bank by just eight runs in the tournament that has been held in accordance with the T20 format to accommodate amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chasing 151, Prime Bank were on the back foot as they kept losing wickets at short intervals.
Opener Rubel Mia held to one side of the crease as wickets kept falling on the other end.
The right-handed batsman played the anchor role with a 43-ball 41 but was held back by cheap dismissals of Rony Talukdar (one), Anamul Haque (13), Raqibul Hasan (four) and Mohammad Mithun (six) in the title deciding game.
Veteran Alok Kapali played a quickfire 34 off 17 in the end as Prime Bank got restricted to 142 for nine after 20 overs.
Right-arm pacer Saifuddin was instrumental for Abahani with four wickets in his four overs giving away 36 runs.
Mehedi Hasan Rana took two wickets.
“We were unable to pick up early wickets during the powerplays in the previous game against Sheikh Jamal. But (yesterday) we managed to pick early wickets that helped us to defend the total of 150. It always feels good to be a part of the champion team and I am happy to contribute both with bat and ball in the all-important title-deciding encounter which is more satisfying from a player’s point of view,” man-of-the-match Saifuddin told the media following the game at the home of cricket.
Abahani earlier posted 150 for seven after choosing to bat first.
The innings started with a struggle as Abahani were reeling after losing the top-three batsmen in the form of Mohammad Naim (nought), Munim Shahriar (three) and Liton Das (19) upfront.
The damage was recovered as captain Mosaddek Hossain and left-handed batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto added 70 for the fourth wicket to boost the Dhanmondi-based club to a competitive total.
Shanto perished on 45 off 40 balls to break the partnership, while Mosaddek followed him soon scoring 40 in 39 deliveries.
Saifuddin in the final over smashed two sixes against Mustafziur Rahman and remained unbeaten on 21 off 13 balls.
Right-arm pacer Rubel Hossain picked up two scalps for Prime Bank while Mustafizur, Nahidul Islam, Shariful Islam and Rubel bagged a wicket each.
Mohammedan v Doleshwar
Pace duo Ruyel Miah and Yeasin Arafat dazzled the opposition batters to guide Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd to a winning end in the DPL.
The Motijheel outfit registered a convincing 25-run win (Duckworth/Lewis method) against Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in their last Super League game in Mirpur.
The win was Mohammedan’s first in five games, and the only in the Super League stage of the tournament as they finished sixth with 15 points in 16 games, while Doleshwar remained third with 21 points, with nine wins in 16 matches.
In pursuit of 107 in 13 overs, Doleshwar struggled to 81 with only two batsmen scoring more than 10.
Ruyel and Yeasin dominated the innings grabbing a five-for and four wickets respectively.
Left-arm pacer Ruyel finished with career-best T20 figure of five for 21 in 2.4 overs.
Yeasin got crucial breakthroughs and ended with impressive figure of four for 11 in three overs.
Fazle Mahmud’s 16 off 17 deliveries was the best in Doleshwar's innings.
Earlier, Mohammedan scored 103 losing five wickets as the match got reduced to 13-over each side due to rain.
Mohammedan captain Shuvagata Hom steered the side to a decent score with an unbeaten 23 off just eight deliveries involving two boundaries and as over boundaries.
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