Captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat came up with sterling all-round performance as Abahani Limited edged past traditional rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club by eight runs in their first match of the Super League phase of Dhaka Premier League at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Monday.
Having won the game, Abahani took solo lead in the standings with 22 points.
Defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club squandered the chance to retain top spot after suffering a seven-wicket defeat to Gazi Group Cricketers.
In the day's other match, Prime Bank Cricket Club thrashed Legends of Rupganj by 173 runs.
Meanwhile in the first match of the relegation league, Agrani Bank beat Dhaka Leopards by one wicket in a thrilling match at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan ground 4.
Abahani v Mohammedan
Opting to bat first, Abahani recovered from an early trouble to post a challenging 258/7 with Mosaddek leading from the front with 63.
Mohammedan were restricted to 250/9 despite a valiant 88 from Mahidul Islam Ankan.
This was Mohammedan's first defeat after a six-match winning run in the group phase.
But they seemed to go back to their old form after Shakib and other national players left the side for national commitment.
They had the chance to dominate Abahani when they reduced the old foes to 43/3, taking the wicket of in-form Mohammad Naim, Anamul Haque Bijoy and Mahmudul Hasan Joy.
Jaker Ali Anik first came up with resistance and added 75 with Afif Hossain who made 36 runs.
Anik then shared another 49-run stand with Mosaddek before getting out for 63 runs.
Mosaddek, who struck three fours and as many sixes for his 70 ball-knock, then guided the lower order astutely to help Abahani propel past 250-run mark.
Khushdil Shah was the other notable scorer with 29.
Mushfik Hasan and Shuvagata Hom took two wickets apiece for Mohammedan, who lost first three wickets for 12 runs.
Ankan and veteran Mahmudullah, who made 54, then resisted but Abahani bowlers, led by Mosaddek, initiated regular intervals to help the side win the game.
Mosaddek ended with 4/54 while Tanzim Hasan Sakib grabbed 3/48.
Prime Bank v Rupganj
Zakir Hasan and Shahadat Hossain Dipu hit a century as Prime Bank got off to a winning start in the Super League phase with a mammoth 173-run victory over Rupganj at BKSP ground 3.
Zakir hit a run-a-ball-106 with 13 boundaries in his first match in competitive cricket after recovering from the injury which ruled him out of the home one-day international series against Ireland in March.
His fellow opener Dipu however, struck 104 off 119 with 10 fours.
Thanks to their century, Prime Bank, who were sent to bat first, compiled a hefty 330/6.
After Zakir and Dipu set the platform with a 222-run opening stand, Al Amin Jr enhanced it further with a 27-ball 56.
Rupganj's Chirag Jani was the peak of the bowlers for his side with 3/39 while Abdul Halim took 2/72.
Captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza remained wicket-less after giving away 67 runs in his nine overs.
Rupganj however, were bowled out for 157 in 38.3 overs to succumb to a big defeat.
Chirag was their top-scorer with 38 while Ashik Ul Alam made 36.
Mahedi Hasan, Rubel Hossain and Nasir Hossain picked up two wickets apiece for Prime Bank.
Sheikh Jamal v Gazi Group
Medium pacer Jaynul Islam claimed 4/23 as Gazi Group pulled off an upset, securing a seven-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal in their first game of the Super League phase at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
Put in to bat first, Sheikh Jamal, who finished the group phase on top of the points table, were bowled out for a meager 89 in 33.2 overs as a little known Jaynul ripped through their batting line up in a display of gem swing bowling.
He was ably supported by left-arm spinner Tipu Sultan who snapped up 3/21 to further wreck havoc among the mighty Sheikh Jamal batting line-up.
Opener Saif Hasan top-scored for the side with 22 while Fazle Mahmud made 20.
Gazi Group reached 92/3 in just 15.5 overs to record the victory in emphatic fashion with opener Mehedi Marud leading the charge with 45 off 55.
He smote eight boundaries in his knock.
