Prime Doleshwar, Mohammedan SC move closer to the top

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club picked up their fifth win in the Dhaka Premier Division, beating Brothers Union by seven wickets. Dawid Malan's unbeaten 83 after a four-wicket haul from man-of-the-match Sabbir Rahman paved the way for the win, which helped Doleshwar to move in second place in the table. They are tied on 10 points with top-placed Gazi Tank and third-placed Mohammedan Sporting. Gazi have played one match less in the tournament, which has helped them keep the top spot, while Prime Doleshwar have a better net run rate compared to Mohammedan.

Batting first, Brothers Union made 251 for 9 with fifties from Imtiaz Hossain and Nafees Iqbal. Thilan Samaraweera made 42, but none of Brothers Union batsmen could convert their good starts. Sabbir's four wickets kept the runs in check too, while Shafiul Alam and Taijul Islam chipped in with two wickets.

Prime Doleshwar lost opener Josh Cobb in the fourth over, even as Mehedi Maruf was scoring rapidly at the other end. Maruf and Rony Talukder added 47 runs quickly, with the latter showing fine form. Rony scored a run-a-ball 57 while Maruf made 54 off 43 balls.

Malan, the Middlesex batsman, ensured the chase stayed on track as he and Sabbir put together a 104-run unbroken fourth-wicket stand. Malan made 83 off 90 balls while Sabbir ended up with a half-century, too.

Mohammedan Sporting Club also moved towards the top of the table, beating Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by 10 runs to draw level with Prime Doleshwar and Gazi Tank. Batting first, Mohammedan made a modest 205 for 8 in their 50 overs.

Rajin Saleh, the Mohammedan captain, scored 60 but the middle order failed to contribute too many runs. Samiullah Shenwari and Delwar Hossain made 39 and 33 respectively, and it was the seventh-wicket stand of 55 runs between these two that took Mohammedan's score to some respectability.

The Mohammedan bowling fired, however. Delwar took four wickets with his pace bowling and Shenwari picked up three to dismiss Khelaghar for 195. Daniel Housego made 53 but Khelaghar's other foreign recruits, Michael Vandort and Steve Mullaney, were out for ducks.