Sohan’s century in vain as Naim’s explosive form continues, and Abahani seal thrilling win over Gazi
Sohan's 132 was not enough to rescue Dhanmondi from defeat against Mohammedan Sporting Club after they endured a disastrous start.
A thrilling day of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) action saw Nurul Hasan Sohan's valiant century go in vain as Dhanmondi fell short in their chase, while Naim Sheikh continued his blistering run with another dominant hundred.
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited fought hard to defeat Gazi Group Cricketers by two wickets in another thrilling encounter.
Sohan's lone battle not enough as Mohammedan edge past Dhanmondi
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Nurul Hasan Sohan produced a captain's knock, but his magnificent 132 was not enough to rescue Dhanmondi from defeat against Mohammedan Sporting Club. Chasing 217, Dhanmondi endured a disastrous start, slipping to 79 for 6 as Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam ran riot with the ball. Mohammedan's disciplined attack kept the pressure on, and the top order collapsed without much resistance.
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Sohan, however, refused to go down without a fight. The wicketkeeper-batter counterattacked with remarkable authority, keeping Dhanmondi in the chase single-handedly. His innings, laced with boundaries and intelligent strike rotation, shifted momentum as he brought up his century in just 92 balls. At one stage, it seemed as if he could pull off a miraculous comeback, but his dismissal to Mohammad Saifuddin in the 45th over ended all hopes. Dhanmondi were eventually bowled out for 193, handing Mohammedan a hard-fought 23-run victory.
Earlier in the day, Mohammedan's batting struggled to gain momentum. Tamim Iqbal and Rony Talukdar provided a steady start with a 46-run stand, but their inability to accelerate left the middle order under pressure. Mushfiqur Rahim continued his underwhelming campaign, departing for just 6, while Mahidul Islam Ankon top-scored with 44. It was Towhid Hridoy's crucial knock of 53 off 44 balls that gave Mohammedan a respectable 216. Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Hasan Murad were the pick of the bowlers for Dhanmondi, sharing five wickets between them.
Naim's brutal century powers Prime Bank to crushing win
Over at BKSP, Naim Sheikh once again stole the spotlight with a stunning unbeaten century, powering Prime Bank Cricket Club to a dominant nine-wicket win over Shinepukur Cricket Club. Having recently vowed to score a hundred and smash fifty sixes in this season's DPL, Naim wasted no time in backing up his words with another breathtaking innings.
Chasing a modest target of 160, Prime Bank lost an early wicket but found stability through Naim's fireworks. The left-hander tore through Shinepukur's attack, smashing 104* off just 64 deliveries. His knock, which included 11 fours and 5 sixes, completely dismantled the opposition's bowling, making the chase look effortless. Sabbir Hossain provided solid support with an unbeaten 47, as Prime Bank chased down the target in just 20.1 overs, securing their place among the top contenders.
For Shinepukur, it was yet another disappointing outing, marking their sixth consecutive defeat in the tournament. Their bowlers had no answer to Naim's onslaught, and their batting had earlier struggled to put up a competitive total.
Mithun and Shanto guide Abahani to hard-fought win
Abahani Limited secured a narrow two-wicket victory over Gazi Group Cricketers in the Dhaka Premier League.
Gazi Group struggled early after being put in to bat at BKSP's fourth ground. Opener Sadikur Rahman departed for 16, and although skipper Anamul Haque Bijoy held one end, wickets continued to tumble. He and Wasi Siddique attempted to stabilise the innings with a 57-run stand.
Bijoy's innings ended after he reached a half-century, scoring 68 off 76 balls with six fours and three sixes. Apart from Wasi Siddique, who contributed 42 off 52 balls, and Abdul Gaffar, who chipped in with 27, the rest of the batting faltered. As a result, Gazi Group were bowled out for 199 in 35.1 overs.
In response, Abahani's chase got off to a shaky start as openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Jisan Alam failed to make an impact. However, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mohammad Mithun steadied the innings, putting their team on course for victory. Shanto scored 43 before his dismissal triggered a collapse, with Abahani losing wickets in quick succession.
Mithun, who reached a half-century, played a crucial knock of 76 off 77 balls before being dismissed. Even as Mominul Haque and Mosaddek Hossain fell late in the innings, Abahani managed to scrape over the line, sealing a two-wicket win.
