Abahani Limited clinched the prestigious Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League title for the third straight time after thrashing arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd by six wickets in the last match of the league at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Tuesday.
Apart from securing the hat-trick of titles, which was their third such treble in DPL history, Abahani sealed the trophy for a record 24th time.
Mohammedan, who have never won the title since 2009-2010, were chasing their 10th crown but in the end they failed to do so what was required to beat a super-disciplined team like Abahani.
Put in to bat first, Mohammedan piled up 240/7, a total that Abahani comfortably overhauled by reaching 243/4 in just 40.4 overs.
Abahani rode on three half-centuries to gun down the target with incredible ease.
Jishan Alam paved the platform with a 53-ball 55, hitting six fours and one six.
Later, skipper Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Mohammad Mithun added 135 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket to seal the deal.
Saikat, who also took two wickets with the ball, was not out on 78 off 65 after smashing six fours and five sixes.
Mithun struck an unbeaten 79-ball 66 with six fours and two sixes.
While chasing the target, Abahani lost opener Shahriar Komol for one in the first over when pacer Ebadot Hossain baffled him with an inswinger.
Parvez Hossain Emon and Jishan brought the side back into the contest but Saifuddin struck with the wicket of the former, who made 28.
Nasum Ahmed then dealt a double strike, having claimed the wicket of SM Meherob (10) and Jishan to make Mohammedan favourites to win the game.
But Saikat and Mithun's calculated partnership ruined their hopes.
Most of the top-order batters of Mohammedan got the desired start earlier but no one could prolong their innings.
Rony Talukdar, who led the side in the absence of Towhid Hridoy, got the team off to a brilliant start with a 47-ball 45.
No 4 batter Farhad Hossain also made 42 but Abahani bowlers kept striking at regular intervals to keep the scoring rate under control.
Veteran Mahmudullah and Arifu Islam hit half-centuries to take the side past 200 runs.
Both of them made identical 50 but none of them could provide the onslaught that was required.
Mrittunjoy Chowdhury also scalped two wickets.
SUPER LEAGUE
Mohammedan 240/7 (Ariful 50, Mahmudullah 50) lost to Abahani 243/4 in 40.4 overs (Mosaddek 78*, Mithun 66*) by 6 wickets
