DPL week 5: Abahani lift 22nd DPL title with two matches in hand
Second-placed Mohammedan are assured of their best season in 11 years
Abahani Limited won their 22nd DPL title this week • Abahani Ltd
Key takeaways
After thirteen consecutive wins, Abahani Limited were finally pushed in a Dhaka Premier League game this season. Still, they beat Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by four wickets with a ball to spare in their Super League clash at the BKSP-4 ground. Before Tuesday's win, they had an average of 144 balls remaining when they won chasing, and by 123 runs on average when batting first. Abahani defended their DPL title having won it last year, to take their tally to 22 trophies in this competition.
Best batters
Saif Hassan's century and fifty in the Super League phase has helped him climb close to Parvez Hossain Emon, who at 623 runs, remains the league's leading run-scorer. But Saif reduced the gap by eleven runs while Mahidul Islam became the third batter to reach 600 runs this season.
Best bowlers
Abu Hider overtook fellow left-arm quick Ruyel Miah as the leading wicket-taker with a four-wicket haul against Shinepukur. Hider now has 28 wickets at 18.43 bowling average, while Ruyel has 27 scalps at 18.74.
Best match
Sheikh Jamal knew that Abahani were not at full strength in their Super League clash on April 30, but still they couldn't take full advantage. They slipped to 15 for three, before Shakib Al Hasan helped them recover somewhat in the middle overs. Still at 152 for seven, it looked like yet another Abahani cakewalk.
Points to ponder
At the other end of the DPL points table was the relegation battle. With all three teams in four points, one of them needed to win both games in the playoffs. Rupganj Tigers did that, beating City Club and Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy, who are now relegated to the Dhaka First Division Cricket League this season.
Players to watch
Only Parvez Hossain Emon got a Bangladesh call-up for the Zimbabwe T20Is among the DPL's top five scorers. Rishad among the top five wicket-takers is in the squad too, but he was there before this season's DPL. The best the rest can hope for is Bangladesh A places in the upcoming matches against Pakistan A and New Zealand A. U19 players Jishan Alam, Ashiqur Rahman Shibli and Maruf Mridha could also be in consideration for High Performance or Bangladesh A teams this season.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84