Afif Hossain struck his first century this season while Pakistan recruit Khushdil Shah claimed six wickets as Abahani Limited retained top spot in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League with a facile 42-run win over Prime Bank Cricket Club in their second match of the super league phase at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah Thursday.
Prime Bank were expected to give Abahani a tough fight after coming off a 173-run victory against Legends of Rupganj in the previous game.
Abahani meanwhile, beat arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club by a narrow eight-run margin in the last match but hardly gave Prime Bank any chance to put up a fight.
Afif hammered an unbeaten 111 off 101 balls with half a dozen fours and five sixes to help Abahani post a decent 285/5, a score that they defended easily, thanks to Khushdil's 6/49.
His bowling helped bundle Prime Bank out for 243 in 45.4 overs.
Anamul Haque and Mohammad Naim, the two Abahani openers who enjoyed a superb run of form in the group phase, failed to make it big in the super league but still provided the side a 55-run partnership after the Sky Blues were asked to bat first.
Anamul made 31 while Naim scored 26 before both got out in quick succession.
Afif held firm and got able support from skipper Mosaddek Hossain Saikat as the duo combined for a 140-run stand for the fourth wicket to help the Dhanmondi outfit reach a strong position.
Mosaddek hit four fours and as many sixes in his 76-ball 67.
Mahedi Hasan and Kashif Bhatt took two wickets apiece for Prime Bank, who in reply lost opener Shahadat Hossain Dipu (five).
Zakir Hasan, fresh from a century in the previous match, and Prantik Nowrose Nabil kept the side in the hunt until leg-spinner Rishad Hossain broke through with the wicket of Zakir, who made 57.
Khushdil then got into the act and scythed down the middle order in a fine display of left-arm spin.
Nabil, who made team-best 57, was also the victim of Khushdil.
In the day's other match, Rupganj edged past Gazi Group Cricketers by four wickets while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club thrashed Mohammedan by 85 runs.
In the relegation league, Shinepukur Cricket Club beat Dhaka Leopards by five wickets.
This was Leopards' second defeat after being beaten by Agrani Club by one wicket in the previous game, which ensured their relegation to the first division.
Agrani and Shinepukur will face off in the last match to confirm their stay in the DPL.
The loser of the game will be relegated straightway.
Mohammedan v Sheikh Jamal
Sheikh Jamal bounced back to winning ways in the super league phase after beating the Black and Whites by 85 runs through Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-hit game at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan ground 3.
This was defending champions Sheikh Jamal's first win in the super league after being stunned by Gazi Group by seven wickets in the previous match.
Mohammedan on the other hand have now lost both their super league games.
Put in to bat first, Fazle Rabbi hit an unbeaten 93 off 86, smashing six fours and five sixes, and skipper Nurul Hasan blasted a 60-ball 70 as Sheikh Jamal registered 259/4 in 47 overs.
Rain then intervened to reduce the game as Mohammedan's target was set at 277 in 47 overs by DLS method.
Mohammedan were bowled out for 191 in 40.5 overs after being run through by Taibur Rahman, who scalped 4/24.
He was ably supported by Arif Ahmed's 3/35.
Mahmudullah made team-high 40 and captain Imrul Kayes added 33.
Rupganj v Gazi Group
A stellar all-round show by Indian recruit Chirag Jani anchored Rupganj to a four-wicket win over Gazi Group at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Rupganj suffered a 173-run thrashing at the hands of Prime Bank in the previous match while Gazi Group recorded a stunning seven-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal.
Invited to take first guard, Gazi Group were restricted to 265/9, thanks to identical 77s from Farhad Hossain and Meherob Hasan.
Anamul Haque was the other notable scorer with an unbeaten 31-ball 49.
Tanbir Hyder bagged 4/37 for Rupganj while Al Amin Hossain took 2/25.
Chirag, who earlier picked up one wicket, made 81 off 73 with seven fours and two sixes as Rupganj raced to victory in 47.1 overs with 269/6.
Opener Parvez Hossain Emon scored 57 off 54 with five fours and four sixes to set the platform up front.
Tipu Sultan and Mahmudul Hasan bagged two wickets apiece for Gazi Group.