Abahani Ltd carried on their aristocracy in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League as they opened account in the six-team super league stage with a 73-run win against holders Gazi Group Cricketers at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in city's Mirpur on Saturday, reports UNB.
Abahani moved into the super league as the leader in the table with 16 points from 11 matches, recording eight wins against three losses, and added two points more with the victory.
Sent in to bat first in the super league first round match, Abahani scored 278 for 6 in 50 overs before restricting Gazi Group on 205 for all in 43 overs.
Abahani's innings spurred with Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari's century of 109 off 124 balls, including 10 boundaries and one six, and wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Mithun's unbeaten half century of 72* off 61 balls with six boundaries and one six.
The two big hitters - Vihari and Mithun - shared a partnership of 136 off 19.3 overs in the 5th wicket, which started after the dismissal of skipper Nasir Hossain on 91/4 in 25.5 overs and ended on 227/5 in 45.2 overs as man of the match Vihari was caught and bowled by Mahedi Hasan.
Saif Hassan (30 off 63b; 2x4), Mosaddek Hossain (23* off 6b; 1x4; 3x6) and national team ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (14 off 11b; 1x4) were other double digit scorers for the side.
Abu Hider (2/45) and Mahedi Hasan (2/49) shared four wickets while Mominul Haque (1/47) and Nayeem Hasan (1/78) shared two wickets for Gazi Group.
In the Gazi Group Cricketers innings, Indian player Anustup Majumdar hit a half century of 64 off 80 balls with four boundaries before being bowled out by Sunzamul Islam on 169/7 36.4 overs.
Mominul Haque (46 off 51b; 6x4) fell short of four runs for another half century as he was caught by Mosaddek Hossain off Taskin Ahmed, leaving his side on 68/4 in 16.5 overs.
Jaker Ali fired two over boundaries to add run-a-ball 29* while Asif Ahmed and Nadif Chowdhury added 20 and 18 runs respectively for the losing side.
Sunzamul Islam captured four wickets for 50 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2/28), Mashrafe (2/30) and Taskin Ahmed (2/49) equally shared six wickets to tackle the batting strength of Gazi Group.
In the day's two other matches of the league, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club (259/7 in 48.1 overs) defeated Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity (258/8 in 50 overs) by 3 wickets with 11 balls remaining at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (262/3 in 48 overs) crushed Legends of Rupganj (260/9 in 50 overs) by seven wickets at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground 3 in Savar.
