Rupganj stay on top with third win

Legends of Rupganj continued their strong start in the Dhaka Premier League, cruising to their third successive victory. They beat Kalabagan Krira Chakra by seven wickets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur to remain at the top of the table.

Three wickets each from pace bowler Mohammad Shahid and left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain helped Rupganj dismiss Kalabagan for 205 in 48.2 overs. Shamsur Rahman's 77 was the top score, as the discarded Bangladesh batsman notched his third consecutive half-century. Rupganj completed the chase in the 48th over with Junaid Siddique and Alok Kapali hitting 51 each, the latter remaining unbeaten. Shahadat Hossain picked up the first two wickets for Kalabagan, but none of the other bowlers could trigger a collapse.

Abahani suffered their first loss when Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club prevailed in a last-over thriller in Fatullah. Abahani needed 10 runs off the last over with one wicket in hand, but Mehedi Hasan gave away only three runs to Subashis Roy and Saqlain Sajib, who got out off the last ball.

Sohag Gazi, returning to domestic cricket, took 2 for 34 and bowled the crucial penultimate over, picking up a wicket but giving away two boundaries off the last two balls. Earlier, Dhanmondi's 219 for 9 was propped up by Liam Dawson's 64 off 55 balls, which included three fours and three sixes. Nazmul Islam took three wickets.

Abahani's reply started well but they lost wickets in clusters. Raqibul Hasan made 83 off 105 balls with five fours and a six, but five batsmen got out before reaching 20, while Litton Das' 34 was ultimately not enough. Saju Dutta took three wickets while Gazi, Dawson and Nahidul Islam claimed two each.

Away at the BKSP-3 ground, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club beat Victoria Sporting Club by six wickets. Victoria lost three wickets in the first 2.1 overs but recovered through a 134-run fourth-wicket stand between Chamara Kapugedera and Nadif Chowdhury, who made 85 and 83 respectively.

Kapugedera had made two centuries in the first two games, but even his good form couldn't give Victoria a good score, as they were bowled out for 200 in 48 overs after Sanjamul Islam (2 for 29), Elias Sunny and Habibur Rahman ran through their middle and lower order. In reply, Doleshwar reached the target in 47.3 overs with Rony Talukdar making a half-century.