Defending champions Abahani Limited started their Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) Super Six campaign with a dominant five-wicket win over Prime Bank Cricket Club at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Shoriful Islam was the star for Abahani, dismantling the Prime Bank batting lineup with a superb spell of 3-27. The bowlers, led by Shoriful, restricted Prime Bank to a meager 178 runs in 39.3 overs. Pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mosadek Hossain Saikat, along with slow left-arm orthodox bowler Tanvir Islam, chipped in with two wickets each.
Prime Bank captain Zakir Hasan (68 runs) and veteran batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (44 runs) were the lone bright spots in their batting order. Only one other batsman, Mahedi Hasan (18 runs), managed to reach double digits.
Abahani's chase also began shakily, but opener Litton Das (56* off 106 balls) played a composed innings to guide his team to victory. His knock, laced with seven fours, provided much-needed stability. Middle-order batsman Towhid Hridoy (55 off 27 balls) provided a late flourish with four fours and five sixes, ensuring Abahani chased down the target with 1.7 overs to spare.
In other Super Six matches played across the country, Mohammedan Sporting Club secured a five-wicket win over Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. Openers Saif Hasan (102*) and Tanvir Rahman (102*) starred with centuries for Sheikh Jamal, but Mohammedan chased down the target of 263 runs with just 0.6 overs remaining, thanks to a brilliant 122-run knock by Mahidul Islam Ankan.