Mahidul Islam Ankan, wicket-keeper batter led Mohammedan Sporting Club to seal fifth position with his 96 runs following a century in the previous match in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) outplaying Dhaka Leopards by five wickets at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium today.
It was the sixth straight victory for the countries traditional powerhouses to claim fifth position with 13 points from 11 matches when it was indeed a remarkable comeback for the team which was win-less in the first five matches and collected just one point thanks to a washed-out game.
However, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Gazi Group Cricketers joined Abahani Limited, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Legend of Rupganj and Prime Bank Cricketers in the top six after winning their respective matches in the last leg of the Dhaka Premier League Cricket on Sunday.
The day’s favourites, in the last leg of the DPL cricket crossed their last hurdle comfortably to claim their place in the last six.
Held at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Mohammedan Sporting Club earned a comfortable five wickets win in their last match against the Dhaka Leopard to book their place in the last six.
In the other match, Gazi Group Cricketers just outplayed Shinepukur Cricket Club by 177 runs when Rupganj Tigers’ Cricket Club also had an easy 56 runs win against Brothers Union but could manage the seventh place.
However, Mohammedan Sporting Club who gave one step to the top six after winning their 10th match, made it a comfortable landing with a five-wicket victory with three overs to spare.
Mohammedan, in absence of their stars Shakib Al Hassan and Rony Talukder, after winning the toss sent the Dhaka Leopard to bat first and booked them on 228 runs for nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.
Dhaka Leopard, who scored 45 runs in their first 10 over power-play losing only one wicket could not continue the defiance against the discipline bowling of Mehidy Hassan Miraz and Khaled Ahmed and Jake Linott, as they lost the wickets in regular interval and folded the innings on 228 when only the fifth wicket pair Ashiqur and Sabbir threatened a bit with scoring 66 runs in nine overs.
Replying to a moderate target Mohammedan though saw an early blow with opener Abdul Mazin leaving the team on five runs for a duck but captain Imrul Kayes accompanied by Mahidul Islam Anlan the second wicket stand added 82 runs to pile a solid foundation.
Imrul Kayes score 58 off 61 runs before being caught by Ridoy Islam off Sohrawordy Shuvo when Ankan played a scintillating innings when he was just four runs short to score a century.
Ankan featured his 96 runs knock from 121 deliveries with hitting five fours and three sixes.
In the day’s other high scoring match, Gazi Group after batting first piled up a huge 333 runs with Habibur Rahman Sohan hammered just a 101 off 66 balls and Rabi Teja smashed 90 of 85 balls and later on Mohammed Enamul and Mahmudul Hassan shared seven wickets among them with taking four and three wickets respectively to bundle out Shinepukur for only 177.
