Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League saw a pulsating high scoring thriller Monday when Abahani Limited beat Gazi Group Cricketers by just one run at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan ground three.
Chasing Abahani’s 311/7 Gazi almost reached home but their last batsman was run out in the very last ball and they ended on 310 all out.
The other two matches of the day at two other venues saw low scoring thrillers as Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd beat Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club by four runs while Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd overcame City Club by five runs.
Abahani v Gazi
Gazi required 17 runs in the last over but they lost the wicket of Quazi Anik through a run out to get into the back foot with just one wicket in hand.
But Husna Habib, who batted at No 10, struck three boundaries in a row in third, fourth and fifth ball of the over to pull the equation of four required off last ball.
However, he failed to dispatch the ball to boundary from the last ball and while attempting the third run to tie his partner Alamgir Hossain got run out for one in the batting end by a Hanuma Vihari throw from long-off.
Gazi opner Mehedi Maruf scored 82 off 67 and No 4 Al-Amin made 92 off 66 balls to keep the chase on track.
Saifuddin got three wickets for Abahani.
Earlier in the day, after losing the toss Abahani made a steady start thanks to opener Jaker Ali.
The wicket-keeper batter, who was adjudged player of the match, scored 109 off 103 and formed some useful partnerships before he was dismissed in the 43rd over when the score was 243.
Afif Hossain played a cameo of 50 off just 32 balls to get the score past 300-run mark.
Mohammedan v City
At the BKSP-4 chasing MSC’s 228/9, City lost wickets in regular intervals and at a stage were reduced to 142/7.
But skipper Jawad Royen, batting at six, continued his fight though his side lost penultimate wicket for 204 on the fifth ball of the 43rd over.
Jawad, however, looked to reach the shore but eventually was caught at short third man by Yeasin Arafat off Saumya Sarkar on the fourth ball of the 49th over to see his side lost by a narrow margin.
Hasan Mahmud, who grabbed three wickets for MSC, was adjudged man of the match.
Earlier in the day, MSC were in all sorts of trouble on 53/5 but Abdul Mazid, batting at five, scored 64 and Shuvagata Hom made 59 to help them post a fighting total.
Jamal v Tigers
At Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, after losing the toss Jamal were bundled out for 202 with highest 61 runs from opener Saif Hassan and Ziaur Rahman making 57.
Nasum Ahmed got four wickets.
In reply Tigers lost their first two wickets before registering any run but looked to recover, albeit slowly, as they reached 120/3 in the 37th over.
But they seemed to crumble due to the pressure of asking run-rate, which was around run-a-ball, as they were bundled out in the last ball despite a 95-run innings from Asif Ahmed.
Ziaur, who got two wickets along with his fifty, was adjudged player of the match.