Gazi Tank clinched their first ever Dhaka Premier League (DPL) title after beating Prime Doleshwar by 60 runs at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
Both sides had 20 points from 14 matches going into the match, which effectively turned the game into a final.
After being put in to bat, Gazi made a good start as the openers put on 60. The partnership was broken when Riazul Islam (36) was dismissed by left arm spinner Taijul Islam. Soon after, the other opener national discard Imrul Kayes, was removed for 40 by Shafiul Islam. With a tally of 655 runs in the tournament, Imrul finished the league as the second highest scorer.
Another national discard Raqibul Hasan together with English cricketer Eion Morgan, who has not performed to expectation in the last four games, however stood up for the batting side.
Raqibul (27) was dismissed by national cricketer Mominul Haque but Morgan continued his aggressive batting and with skipper Mahmudullah at the other end finding the boundary frequently, the Gazi innings was cruising. Even after Mahmudullah was removed for 51, Morgan carried on smoothly before Taijul dismissed him for a brilliant 84 off 71 balls (nine fours, two sixes). Towards the end of the innings, Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate scored a quick 35 off 18 balls to take the total to an imposing 295/7 in 50 over.
Left arm spinner Taijul Islan took two wickets while Farhad Reza, Shafiul Islam and Mominul Haque bagged one apiece for Doleshwar.
In reply, Doleshwar lost both openers quickly as national paceman Rubel Hossain removed Mehedi Maruf for 1 and English cricketer Joshua Cobb for 3. Later, the in-form Englishman Dawid Malan was out for 5, leaving Doleshwar in dire straits at 95/6 at the half way stage of the innings.
However, Mominul who came to bat at number four, was playing his natural game and stroking the bad balls to the boundary and with skipper Farhad Reza for company, was looking to hold the innings together.
Mominul was looking dangerous as he headed towards a hundred before Mahmudullah clean bowled the left hander for a fine 92-ball 86 (eight fours). It proved to be the turning point of the match and although Farhad tried to up the tempo, he could not find support at the other end. Farhad eventually fell for 79 off 60 balls (nine fours, two sixes) and Doleshwar went on to be bowled out for 235 in 45.4 overs.
Doleshwar’s Pakistan born English cricketer Ashar Ziadi took four wickets while young left arm spinner Naeem Islam Jr picked up three for the bowling side.
It is Gazi Tank's first DPL triumph, and they have become the seventh winner of the competition after Abahani (17 times), Mohammedan (nine times), Biman (five times), Victoria (four times), Old DOHS (twice) and Brothers Union (once) in the tournament's 37th season.
Brief score
Gazi Tank 295/7 in 50 over
Eoin Morgan 84, Mahmudullah 51
Taijul Islam 74/2
Prime Doleshwar 235/10 in 45.4 over
Mominul Haque 86, Farhad Reza 79
Ashar Zaidi 39/4, Naeem Islam Jr 38/3
Gazi Tank won by 60 runs