Munaweera, Siddique blitz put Sheikh Jamal on top

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club cantered to an eight-wicket win against Prime Bank Cricket Club in the Dhaka Premier League. They won with 20.1 overs to spare after being set 201 to win in 48 overs.

Dilshan Munaweera and Junaid Siddique got their chase off to one of the most scintillating starts this season.

The opening pair added 130 runs in just 17 overs. Munaweera blazed 95 off 57 balls with 15 fours and three sixes, completely dominating the opening partnership. Junaid took over after Munaweera's departure. He hammered an unbeaten 74 off 79 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Prime Bank's bowling was taken to task, particularly Tapash Baisya and Ziaur Rahman, who gave away 18 and 19 off their only overs respectively.

Earlier, their new English recruit, Ravi Bopara, made 74 off 78 balls with 12 fours. Gulbadin Naib took four for 31 in seven overs. The match had started an hour late due to a wet outfield in Bogra.

Mohammedan Sporting Club reversed their recent poor form with a 42-run win over neighbours Victoria Sporting Club. They had previously lost their last three matches in the league, slipping to eighth position.

Batting first, Mohammedan were bowled out for 240 runs in 50 overs with Upul Tharanga making 73, with Ezaz Ahmed and Shamsur Rahman hitting 44 each. Victoria's makeshift captain, Monir Hossain, took four wickets.

In reply, the defending champions couldn't recover from a poor start, although Milinda Seeriwardana and Soumya Sarkar added 95 for the fifth wicket. Soumya top scored with 57 off 54 balls. But once the pair was removed, left-arm spinner Murad Khan took three wickets to hasten Mohammedan's fourth victory.

Gazi Tank Cricketers handed Abahani a sixth defeat, when they won by 13 runs in Fatullah.

Abahani faltered in their chase of 190 runs in 49 overs after rain delayed the start of the match by an hour. They slipped to 52 for four in the 23rd over, after which Thilina Kandamby and Al-Amin added 76 runs for the fifth wicket.

The pair, however, batted slowly, which left Alauddin Babu too much to do in the latter overs. He struck a couple of sixes in his 11-ball 24 but it wasn't enough as they were restricted to 176 for 8.

Earlier, Al-Amin's three-wicket haul helped restrict Gazi Tank to 189 runs. Rakibul Hasan's 42 was their highest score while Imrul Kayes made 39, with Al-Amin being the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 27.