Tamim ton sets up crushing 136-run win

Brothers Union became one of three teams to pick up their first wins in the Dhaka Premier League, when they crushed Gazi Tank Cricketers by 136 runs.

Tamim Iqbal's century paved the way, before their strong bowling line-up applied the squeeze. Rain interrupted play during Gazi's innings but they were already 54 for 7, and finished on 107 for 9 after the innings was reduced to 38 overs. It was Gazi's first loss too, and the resounding nature would irk their new officials, who acquired the club in recent times.

Mahmudullah put Brothers in to bat, and straight away regretted the decision. Tamim dominated the bowling, as he moved to 50 off 62 balls before settling down for his first hundred of the competition. He added 54 for the opening wicket with Imtiaz Ahmed, before putting on another 97 for the second wicket with elder brother Nafees Iqbal.

After Tamim completed his century, and the partnership was broken in the 32nd over, Brothers lost their way despite having the likes of Angelo Mathews, Alok Kapali and Azhar Mahmood in the line-up. They were bowled out for 246 in the final over.

Rubel Hossain picked up his second haul of five or more wickets in as many games. He finished with 5 for 37, and completed it in grandstyle - with a hat-trick. He picked up the wickets of Suhrawadi Shuvo, Mehrab Hossain jnr. and Ehsanul Haque, off the last ball of the 48th over and the first two balls of the final over of the innings.

But Gazi's reply with the bat fell flat early in the chase. Azhar Mahmood, Sanjamul Islam and Imtiaz took two wickets a piece, while the rest of the bowlers chipped in as well.

Naeem Islam's century helped Kalabagan Krira Chakra bounce back from a first-game defeat. They trounced Prime Bank Cricket Club by 86 runs at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. Batting first, Kalabagan lost three wickets within 20 overs were but later recovered through a fourth-wicket stand between Naeem and Farhad Hossain.

The pair added 68 runs before Naeem was involved in three more mini partnerships that paved the way for a 250-plus total. Naeem made 104 off 95 balls, hitting 12 boundaries in the process. Farhad struck 34 while Sri Lankan international Chamara Kapugadera chipped in with 29 as they ended up on 254 all out in 50 overs.

Seamer Tapash Baisya finished off the Kalabagan tail with a hat-trick, the first of the season. He removed the Naeem, Shahadat Hossain and Rakibul Hasan off the last three balls of the innings.

For Prime Bank, only Bhanuka Rajapaksa batted with conviction, scoring a fifty. The rest folded to Kalbagan's spin attack which operated from the first over. Left-arm spinner Sohan Boralessa and offspinner Jehan Mubrak took two and three wickets respectively as opening bowlers. The other left-armer, Rakibul, and offspinner Farhad took two wickets each. The only seamer in the attack, Shahadat, bowled four wicketless overs.

Victoria Sporting Club picked up their first win after they beat Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by five wickets. Captain Nasir Hossain was unbeaten on 66 off 69 balls to complete the chase, after Khelaghar crawled to 118 for 7 in 50 overs.

Those who watched the game said the Fatullah Cricket Stadium wicket offered nothing to the batsmen, other than a slow surface and very low bounce. It was also the case when Cricket Coaching School were shot out for 35 in the previous game at this venue. The stadium's surfaces have been relayed, after the entire outfield had to be dug up to fit in a new drainage system.

Khelaghar's Mosaddek Iftekhar made 29 while Enamul Haque of Victoria took two wickets. Nasir's aggressive half-century was the highlight of the day. He hammered five fours and sixes respectively, but the rest of the Victoria batting line-up struggled too.