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Mohammad IsamESPN
Abahani Limited remained on course to clinch their 19th Dhaka Premier League title after a crushing 127-run win over Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity. Abahani now have to beat Legends of Rupganj in the Super League match on April 5 to become champions.
However, if they lose and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club win against Khelaghar on the same day, it will leave Abahani, Rupganj and Dhanmondi Club on 22 points each. The winner will then be decided by most wins, head-to-head between teams on equal points and then net run-rate.
At the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Abahani made 241 in 46.3 overs batting first, a competitive score given that they had slipped to 156 for 8 in the 35th over. Mehidy Hasan and Taskin Ahmed added 49 runs for the ninth wicket; Mehidy made 50 off 44 balls with five fours and three sixes while Taskin thumped two sixes in his 22-ball 26.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto was Abahani’s top-scorer with 54 off 56 balls that included six fours and a six. Seamer Abdul Halim took 4 for 10 but captain Nazimuddin didn’t use him after Halim removed Mosaddek Hossain in the 25th over
Abahani then went on to bowl out Khelaghar for 114 runs in 27.3 overs. Mashrafe Mortaza took three wickets while there was two each for Taskin, Nasir Hossain and Sandip Roy.
Shiekh Jamal Dhanmondi Club kept themselves in the title hunt after a 10-run win over Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in a low-scoring game at the BKSP-3 Ground.
Batting first, Dhanmondi Club were bowled out for 183 runs in 38 overs. Zakaria Masud took three wickets while there was two each for Farhad Reza and Sharifullah.
In reply, Doleshwar were shot out for 173 runs in 48.2 overs. They were kept in the hunt by the tenth-wicket stand between Arafat Sunny and Salauddin Sakil, who added 67 runs after they had slipped to 106 for 9 in the 34th over. Seamer Robiul Haque had Sakil caught and bowled in the 49th over to complete their 10th win. Tanbir Hayder took four wickets to go with his unbeaten 43.
Legends of Rupganj beat Gazi Group Cricketers by eight wickets at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.
Batting first, Gazi Group were bowled out for 152 in 45.4 overs with Mohammad Shahid picking up four wickets.
Rupganj reached the target in 22.5 overs with Avishek Mitra top-scoring with 57 off 61 balls that had five fours and two sixes. He added 63 runs for the second wicket with Mohammad Naim, who struck five fours and two sixes in his 34-ball 45. Avishek then added 78 runs for the unbroken third-wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim who was not out on 30.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo