Nurul Hasan Sohan has faced some difficult times in the international arena over the last few months but he returned to form with a majestic match winning century that not only sealed the match but almost the Dhaka Premier League title for Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited.
Sohan was the star of the day Thursday as his unbeaten 132 helped Jamal beat Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club while among the other matches, Shakib al Hasan made some vital impact both with bat and ball in a low-scoring match that was eventually won by Legends of Rupganj against Prime Bank Cricket Club.
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited suffered defeat yet again - two in two in the Super League - and their loss against Gazi Group Cricketers ensured they are out of the title race mathematically.
Jamal v Tigers
Chasing Tigers' 247/6 Jamal seemed to be in all sorts of trouble as they lost wicket without any run on the board and got reduced to 81/5 in the 21st over but Sohan emerged as the hero at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with the help of Mehedi Hasan Miraz.
The duo added 134 runs before Miraz was run out for 43 but Sohan continued his onslaught and made sure his side reach home with an over to spare with his 118-ball innings that was laced with 10 fours and half as many sixes.
Earlier in the day after losing the toss Tigers put up a decent score thanks to 75 from opener Zakir Hasan, undefeated 50 from Saad Nasim and few 20-plus scores.
Miraz bagged three wickets for Jamal.
With the win Jamal now have 22 points from 12 games and with three matches to go, they have four-point gap with Rupganj - the only team which may topple them down with favorable results.
Rupganj v Prime
In the rain-curtailed 33-over-per-side match at BKSP-4, Prime were bundled out for 152 runs in 31.2 overs.
In-form batter Anamul Haque made yet another fifty and his 73-run innings was the top-score for Prime but he consumed 91 balls and created pressure on the remaining batters.
Yasir Ali scored 39 off 37 balls.
Shakib, who missed Bangladesh’s Test series away to South Africa for family reasons, picked up two wickets and conceded just 19 runs from seven overs.
In reply, Rupganj were in a spot of bother when Shakib was run out for 21 as they became 84/7 but player of the match Muktar Ali remained not out on 39 off 45,
Tanbir Hayder was unbeaten on 31 off 39 and their unbroken 70-run stand ensured Rupganj won by three wickets with two balls to spare and keep their title hopes alive.
Gazi v Abahani
Gazi opener Mahmudul Hasan scored 88 while their Nos 3 and 4 Farhad Hossain and Dhruv Shorey contributed 57 and 55 respectively to put up 276/6 in 36 overs at BKSP 3.
Abahani seemed to be cruising to the big score as they reached 210/3 in 26 overs thanks to 61 and 76 from openers Munim Shahriar and Nazmul Hossain Shanto and 73 from skipper Mosaddek Hossain at five.
But they capitulated to off-spinner Al-Amin who grabbed six wickets to skittle them out for 249 in 34.3 and clinch a 27-run victory for Gazi.
In the relegation league match Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity lost to Brothers Union and made sure they will finish the league as bottom side.
Super League
Rupganj Tigers 247/6 (Zakir 75, Miraz 3/40) lost to Sheikh Jamal 251/6 in 49 overs (Nurul 132*, Miraz 43) by four wickets
Gazi Group 276/6 (Mahmudul 88, Farhad 57) beat Abahani 249 in 34.3 overs (Shanto 76, Al Amin 6/22) by 27 runs
Prime Bank 152 in 31.2 overs (Anamul 73, Yasir 39) lost to Rupganj 154/7 in 32.4 overs (Muktar 39*, Tanbir 31*) by three wickets
Relegation League
Khelaghar 152 in 35.1 overs (Sachin 64, Haider 3/27) lost to Brothers 154/2 in 34.5 overs (Imtiaz 87*, Sadikur 37) by eight wickets
