Gazi Group go top with sixth successive win

Gazi Group Cricketers took the top spot in the league with their sixth successive win, and handed Partex Sporting Club their sixth loss in six matches.

After being invited to bat, Partex posted a competitive 270 for 9 on the back of half-centuries from opener Jatin Saxena and middle-order batsman Irfan Sukkur. Hossain Ali and Abu Hider picked up two wickets each for Gazi Group.

They started the chase positively with openers Anamul Haque and Jahurul Islam adding 68 for the first wicket. Jahurul moved to 96, including 11 fours and a six, before retiring hurt. He did not return to bat, but a chain of cameos from the middle and lower order helped Gazi Group seal the chase with four wickets and six balls to spare. For Partex, Raijbul Islam and Jubair Ahmed took two wickets each.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club ran up 309 for 7 and crushed Brothers Union by 92 runs in Fatullah. Their fourth successive victory took them to third place with 10 points.

It was Prashant Chopra who laid the foundation for the win with his fourth List A century, which contained seven fours and three sixes. Legspinner Tanbir Hayder, who has played two ODIs for Bangladesh, then derailed the chase with his first five-wicket haul in List A cricket.

Chopra was assisted by Fazle Mahmud, who made 78 off 75 balls, and Abdullah Al Mamun, who made 59 off 54 balls. Then they went from 277 for 2 to 300 for 7, but the late collapse did not cost them in the end.

Brothers Union had a brisk start in their chase with openers Mizanur Rahman and Junaid Siddique adding 49 in seven overs. Farhad Hossain, the No. 3 batsman, sustained the momentum with his seventh List A fifty, but the middle order and the lower order crumbled. They were eventually bowled out for 217 in 43.5 overs.

Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity picked up their second win of the season after thumping Victoria Sporting Club by 57 runs at the BKSP-3 ground in Savar. Victoria, winless in six matches, are on the verge of being relegated.

After being sent in, Khelaghar piled on 303 for 7 with opener Robiul Islam Robi scoring his first List A century - 107 off 115 balls, including 15 fours and one six. He added 102 for the first wicket with Salauddin Pappu who hammered five sixes and as many fours in his 51-ball 60. Robi then added 64 for the fourth wicket with Nazimuddin before Masum Khan (31*) and Dolar Mahmud (25) made cameos to push the total past 300.

Rubel Mia, who took three wickets with his offspin, then struck six fours in his 46 and gave Victoria a good start in their chase. The middle over, however, could not build on his work. Arafat Sunny later struck three sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 47 off 41 balls, but it only served to reduce the margin of defeat. Suraj Randiv took three wickets while Tanvir Islam picked up two wickets for Khelaghar.