Premier cricket: Legends of Rupganj maintain top slot with Abahani

Dhaka – Legends of Rupganj beat Prime Doleshwar SC by 72 runs on Friday, maintaining their top slot in Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League with holders Abahani Limited.

Rupganj and defending champions Abahani both have 12 points from seven matches.

Sent to bat first in the seventh round match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Rupganj posted 265 runs for nine wickets in 50 overs.

Shahriar Nafees (68) and Pakistani recruit Akbar-ur-Rehman (67) hit half centuries. Naeem Islam (43) and Mominul Haque (25) were the other notable batsmen for Rupganj.

For Doleshwar, veteran all-rounder Farhad Reza bagged four wickets conceding 52 runs while Arafat Sunny, Shykat Ali and Enamul Haque Jr took one wicket each.

But Doleshwar were all out for 193 in 46 overs. Saad Nasim, their Pakistani recruit, scored 61.

Imran Uzzaman (37), Mahmudul Hasan (20), and Taibur Rahman (32) were the other batsmen to reach double-digit scores.

For Rupganj, Mohammad Shahid bagged four wickets while Subashis Roy and Akbar took two wickets each.

Shahid was adjudged man of the match.In the day’s other match, Shikeh Jamal beat Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by five wickets at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.

It was Sheikh Jamal’s fourth win and Khelaghar’s sixth defeat in the league in seven matches.

Sheikh Jamal won the toss and decided to bowl first. They restricted Khelaghar SKS for 183 for nine in 50 overs.

Moinul Islam was the best batsman for Khelaghar scoring 55 off 70 balls with three fours. Besides, Amit Majumder and Nazimuddin scored 40 and 26 respectively.

For Sheikh Jamal, Taijul Islam took three wickets conceding 39 runs. Khaled Ahmed, the right-handed national pacer, also bagged three wickets for 43.

In reply, Sheikh Jamal reached the target (185/5) with eight overs to spare.

Imtiaz Hossain (47) was the best batsman for Sheikh Jamal. Fardeen Hasan (25), Tanbir Hyder (25), Nasir Hossain (20), Nurul Hasan (22), Ziaur Rahman (20*) and Taijul Islam (15*) also contributed to the team’s victory.

Taijul was awarded man of the match for his three wickets haul and an unbeaten 15 runs.UNB