Abahani Limited suffered a big setback in their pursuit of winning the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League as they lost to Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd who further bolstered their position at top of the league table Friday.
At the low scoring thriller at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan Sheikh Jamal won by five wickets to amass 14 points from eight games while Abahani were languishing in fourth with 10 points from eight matches.
Sheikh Jamal also got favorable result from the other encounter of the day where second placed Prime Bank Limited, who now have 12 points from nine games, lost by four runs against Gazi Group Cricketers at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Sheikh Jamal v Abahani
Kashmir-born Indian off-spinner Parvez Rasool has been the most impactful player for league leaders Sheikh Jamal and he continued his great form as he picked up five wickets to bundle Abahani out for a meager 177 runs.
Abahani got 18 runs from the very first over bowled by Sumon Khan but as soon as Parvez took the new ball from another end the situation changed completely.
The Indian bagged first three wickets including that of his compatriot Hanuma Vihari to reduce Abahani to 49/3.
The men in sky blue lost wickets in regular intervals and Shamim Hossain was the only half centurion as his 51 helped the side get past 150-run mark.
Rasool returned with 5/29.
In reply Sheikh Jamal openers formed a 44-run stand but lost few wickets quickly to become 136/5 in 39 overs.
However, Robiul Islam Robi, who scored highest 57, kept his cool and with the aid of Taibur Rahman (20) navigated the side home.
Gazi v Prime
Batting first seems tricky so most teams chose to bowl first after winning the toss in this tournament and Prime also did so.
But Gazi opener Mehedi Maruf measured the situation well and composed a well-made 118-run off 140 balls.
The 34-year old right-handed batsman, who struck 13 fours and three sixes, did not get much help from other side but continued his innings before getting dismissed as the seventh batter in the 46th over when the score was 221.
Gazi ended on 256/9 and Rejaur Rahman Raja of Prime returned with 3/78.
In reply, in-form Anamul Haque, who has scored played seven fifty-plus innings including two centuries in this tournament so far, made 85 and when he was dismissed Prime looked to be on a good position on 170/3 in 32 overs.
But they lost flurry of wickets, and could add only 82 runs as the innings ended on 252/9, losing the match by a narrow margin.
Husna Habib and Rakibul Atik got three wickets apiece for Gazi.
