All-round Doleshwar thump KCA

Sohag Gazi's late fifty, and a four-wicket haul from Sabbir Rahman helped Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club beat Kalabagan Cricket Academy by 79 runs in the Dhaka Premier Division.

Doleshwar's seventh win took them level with Gazi Tank Cricketers and Mohammedan Sporting Club at the top of the points table, as the first phase of the tournament ended with this game.

Batting first, Doleshwar ended up 252 for 9 in 50 overs, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 97-run ninth-wicket stand between Gazi and Arman Hossain. The pair came together when the score was 152 for 8, after which Gazi took over the scoring. He made an unbeaten 58 off 49 balls with seven fours and a six, while Arman made 38 off 55 balls, striking four fours.

Joshua Cobb had earlier held together the Doleshwar innings with 69 off 83 balls- a knock that included eight fours and a six. He strung together crucial mini-partnerships with Mominul Haque, Chris Nash and Sabbir, before being trapped lbw by Sharifullah to become the sixth batsman to lose his wicket. Zakaria Masud and Sharifullah took three wickets each, while Hamilton Masakadza notched two scalps.

KCA began their run-chase poorly, as the openers Masakadza and Abdul Mazid were both out inside five overs. Sahagir Hossain and Marshall Ayub added 61 runs for the third wicket, but a flurry of wickets from Rahman before the batting Powerplay, helped wreck KCA's middle order to leave the team precariously placed at 135 for 6.

Rahman received ample support from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and medium-pacer Farhad Reza, who each picked up three wickets, to bundle KCA out for 173 in just over 46 overs.

As it stands, both Doleshwar and KCA are in the second phase, alongside Gazi Tank Cricketers, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club. The last place will be determined in the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club-Brothers Union re-match scheduled for November 16.