Abahani maintain top slot beating Shinepukur

A century by Nazmul Hossain Shanta helped Dhaka Abahani Limited to maintain the top slot in the Walton Dhaka Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League beating Shinepukur Cricket Club by 56 runs at the Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Sunday, reports UNB.

With the day's emphatic victory, the popular Dhanmondi outfit, Abahani Ltd, topped the list securing 16 points from 11 matches with eight wins and three losses while Shinepukur CC went down to the 6th slot with 10 points, playing 11 matches.

Legend of Rupganj followed the leader neck and neck collecting 14 points from 10 encounters while Khelaghar SKS also bagged 14 points from 11 matches.

Sent in to bat first, Abahani Limited piled up a huge total of 335 runs for 4 in stipulated 50 overs featuring 185 runs in the 2nd wicket stand by Nazmul Hossain Shanta and Saif Hassan. Shanta again pairing with skipper Nasir Hossain added another 80 runs in the 3rd wicket stand.

After the departure of national opener Anamul Haque for 30 runs in 8.3 overs scoring 18 runs with two fours and a six, one down Shanta hammered unconquered 150 runs off 120 balls featuring nine fours and nine sixes to be adjudged man of the match.

Another opener Saif Hassan contributed 94 runs off 114 balls hitting seven boundaries and four over boundaries while number four Nasir Hossain quick-fired 34-ball 45 runs with four fours and three sixes.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Naeem Islam Junior bagged two wickets each conceding 50 and 73 runs respectively.

Chasing a mammoth target of 336 runs, Shinepukur CC made a good start scoring 125 runs in 24 overs in the opening partnership by Fardeen Hasan Ony and Shadman Hossain and added another 144 runs in the 2nd wicket stand by Fardeen Hasan and Towhid Hridoy, but were forced to fold their innings on 279 runs for 3 in quota 50 overs.

Opener Fardeen Hasan hammered polished 118-ball 104 runs hitting nine fours and two sixes, one down Towhid Hridoy contributed 72-ball 83 runs with seven hits to the fence and three over the fence while another opener Shadman Islam scored 78-ball 56 runs including five boundaries and one over boundary.

Bangladesh ODI captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza grabbed two wickets for 35 runs while captain Nasir Hossain took the remaining wicket giving away 34 runs.