Mominul, Jahurul extend Gazi Group's lead at the top

A rain interruption in the 21st over of Gazi Group Cricketers' chase meant they defeated Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 24 runs via the DLS method, and maintain their four-point lead on the Dhaka Premier Division League points table.

Sohag Gazi had bowled five balls with Gazi Group 114 for 2 in their chase of 233 when play had to be stopped at the BKSP-4 Ground. When play was finally called off at 4.50pm, Gazi Group were 23 runs ahead of the par score.

No. 3 Mominul Haque clobbered seven fours enroute to his 45-ball 46, while opener Jahurul Islam remained unbeaten on 49 off 56 balls. Their 68-run partnership for the second wicket took them close to the revised target of 91, after Gazi removed Anamul Haque in the sixth over.

Earlier, Dhanmondi Club scored 232 for 9 in 43 overs after rain interrupted their innings. Fazle Mahmud (38) and Prashant Chopra (35) added 62 for the second wicket before they fell on consecutive deliveries. Tanbir Hayder subsequently steered the innings with his 57 off 54 balls. For Gazi Group, all six bowlers used were among the wickets, with Abu Hider and Mahedi Hasan bagging two apiece.

Events at the adjacent BKSP-3 Ground were predictably similar with the DLS method facilitating a 17-run victory for Brothers Union over Kalabagan Krira Chakra.

Kalabagan's decision to bat found little validation from their line-up as no batman managed to get into the thirties. While run-outs sent openers Mehrab Hossain jnr (28) and Jashimuddin (25) back, Brothers Unions' pair of Nihaduzzaman and Manvinder Bisla took five wickets between them, with Bisla dismissing three lower-order batsmen. Nuruzzaman and Muktar Ali's sixth-wicket partnership of 48 runs guided Kalabagan towards 150 before they folded for 171 in the 43rd over.

Brothers Union reached 82 for 1 in 22.2 overs when rain interrupted play, with Junaid Siddique (38) and Bisla (31) having added 70 runs, ensuring their side was 17 runs ahead of the par score.

Rain didn't spare the contest between Prime Bank Cricket Club and Partex Sporting Club at the KSOA Stadium in Fatullah either. Similar to the other two games, the chasing side, Prime Bank, ended up playing more than 20 overs, and won the game by a 37-run margin.

Prime Bank had raced to 114 for no loss in 24 overs, after their target was reset to 175 in 40 overs due to a rain interruption. Openers Mehedi Maruf and Zakir Hasan sored 52 and 55 respectively.

Earlier, Partex were bowled out for 192 in 46.2 overs with Jony Talukdar top-scoring with 69 off 86 balls. He peppered six fours and two sixes and shared a 78-run opening stand with Jatin Saxena (40). Asif Ahmed's dismissal of Talukdar in the 29th over triggered a collapse, with Partex losing four wickets for 14 runs. While Asif finished with 2 for 34 from his 10 overs, Nazmul Islam dented the lower order to return figures of 3 for 23 from seven overs.