Dhaka, Friday


29 March 2024


Business Insider Bangladesh

Legends of Rupganj comfortably beat Mohammedan

BI Report || BusinessInsider

Published: 03:52, 11 June 2021   Update: 17:42, 11 June 2021
Legends of Rupganj comfortably beat Mohammedan

Mohammedan Sporting Club’s skipper Shakib Al Hasan bowls during a DPL match against Legends of Rupganj on Thursday. Photo: Collected

Title favourite Mohammedan Sporting Club’s sorry run of successive defeats in the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (DPL) T20 continued as they were handed a crushing nine-wicket defeat by Legends of Rupganj at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Thursday.

Bangladesh poster boy and Mohammedan skipper Shakib Al Hasan yet again failed to click with bat as Mohammedan struggled to gather momentum in their innings and only the late heroics from Shuvagata Hom in the middle lifted their score to 9-113 in 20 overs after opting to bat first.

Mohammedan, who made dazzling start in DPL under the leadership of Shakib, suffered their third consecutive defeat on Thursday.

Spinner Sohag Gazi who was adjudged the player of the match, claimed the Mohammedan top orders to leave the losers floundering at 2-6.

Mahmudul Hasan’s dismissal was the first of five in 7 overs and Mohammedan’s batting backbone Shakib lost his cool and was caught for a six-ball duck that left the traditional outfit on 11-3.

However, some judicious batting in the middle-order from underrated Shuvagata Hom (52 from 32 balls) and Abu Hider (15) ensured Mohammedan managed at least something worthwhile.

A target of 114 in T20 cricket was always going to be difficult to defend against the Rupganj’s strong batting line-up and it became even more so as the dangerous openers Pinak Ghosh and Mehedi Maruf got off to a flier.

The duo smashed Mohammedan bowlers with an 89-run stand for the first wicket, not only dismissed the pressure but also made the course easier.

The partnership was finally broken when Mehedi Maruf was castled by Mahmudul for 41.But Pinak Ghosh refused to give up as he was unbeaten on 51.

After batting failure, Shakib was also wicketless with the ball.

Meanwhile, defending champions Abahani Limited jumped to the top of the DPL table after beating Shinepukur Cricket Club by 25 runs via D/L method at BKSP.

Chasing 149 from 17 over after rain interruption, Shinepukur were forced to stop at 123 for five in the stipulated 17 overs.

Abahani’s success was thanks in large part to a brilliant opening stand from Mohammad Naim and Afif Hossain who were almost unstoppable and shared 111 run stand after put into bat first.

Top scorer Naim smashed four fours and as many sixes in his 50-ball 70 before he became one of four victims by spinner Tanvir Islam (4-23). Afif (54 off 42 balls) supported him well on the other end as the holders posted a mighty 183 for five in 20 overs.

Later, pacer Mohammad Saifuddin, living up to his habit of taking crucial wickets in the tournament, kept Shinepukur under the check and claimed three vital wickets.

In the day’s other DPL fixtures, Prime Dolehwar Sporting Club who were unbeatable in this tournament, tasted the first defeat on Thursday as they were edged by Prime Bank Cricket Club by 3 run at BKSP.

An aggressive batting by player of the match Mohammad Mithun (55 from 50 balls) lifted Prime Bank to 151-7 after opting to bat first.

Dolehwar in reply were restricted at 148 for nine in 20 overs despite Kamrul Islam’s late onslaught. Kamrul smashed 12-ball 38 to keep Doleshwar’s hopes alive but his effort proved a little in the end.

Pace sensation Mustafizur grabbed three wickets for 25 for Prime Bank.

On the other hand, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club outclassed Partex Sporting Club by six wickets at BKSP while Old DOHS Sports Club hammered Gazi Group Cricketers by six wickets at Mirpur.

At BKSP Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity pulled off an upsetting five run win over Brothers Union via D/L method.

Nagad
Walton