||CF Correspondent||

Mohammedan Sporting Club yet again fought hard for their victory but this time, it went down to the wire before they clinched the match to secure their third straight victory in Dhaka Premier League (DPL).

On the way maintain winning spree, Mohammedan recorded a  nervy one-wicket victory in the last ball of the game against Prime Doleshwar at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Despite pace bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi’s career-best 5-24, Gazi Group struggled hard before recording a three-wicket victory over Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity in a low-scoring game at the BKSP-3 ground.

Elsewhere at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, medium pace bowler Sumon Khan claimed 4-41 to script BKSP’s first victory in the league as they outclassed Uttara Sporting Club by 20 runs. 

Mohammedan Sporting Club vs Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club

In the game of two mighty teams, Mohammedan prevailed basically to be able to hold their nerve in crucial moments.

Doleshwar piled up decent 248-8 in a slow and low Mirpur pitch, a score which Mohammedan overhauled in the last ball, making 251-9, from a relatively precarious 125-7 in 30 overs.

No. 8 batsman Sohag Gazi struck a 51 ball-70, smashing three fours and six sixes while No. 9 Alauddin Babu made 38 off 43 and added 77-run for the eighth wicket to help the side overcome the jittery state before Shafiul Islam sealed the deal with last ball boundary.

With Mohammedan requiring just two runs for victory in the last four, Shaiful played out three dot balls much to the despair of the Mohammedan fans. But he remained calm under the pressure and hit the last ball boundary to ensure the side’s dramatic victory.

Doleshwar seam bowler Farhad Reza (4-55) was the wrecker-in-chief as Mohammedan stood on the brink of tasting first defeat by being reduced to 51-4, including the wicket of skipper Raqibul Hasan (16) who played consecutive 80 plus knocks in the first two matches to help Mohammedan earn the hard-earned victory.

Irfan Sukkur and Nadif Chowdhury seemed to have offered resistance but Doleshwar’s Pakistan recruit Saad Nasim (2-28) got the better of both of them. However, Sohag Gazi’s match-defining innings eventually snatched the game for Mohammedan from the jaws of defeat.

Earlier, Doleshwar put into bat first, Doleshwar rode on Taibur Rahman unbeaten 72 and Marshall Ayub’s 68 to rack up a challenging total.

Brief Score

Prime Doleshwar:  248/8

Taibur 72*, Ayub 68; Alauddin 3-49, Shafiul 3-64

Mohammedan Sporting Club: 251/9

Sohag 70, Alauddin 38; Farhad 4-55, Saad 2-28

Mohammedan won by 1 wicket

Gazi Group Cricketers vs Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity

Fast bowler Kamrul Islam Rabbi’s List A career-best 5-24 wrapped up Khelghar Samaj Kallayan Samity for 138 in 47.5 overs. But Khelaghar’s pace bowler Robiul Haque didn’t let Gazi Group make it a cake-walk. He replied Rabbi’s bowling with 5-41 as Gazi Group had to fight to canter to the victory by making 142-7 in 39.5 overs.

Gazi were reduced to 38-4, before Shamsur Rahman and Parvej Rasool combined for a 62-run to steady the innings. Shasmur was out for 51 and Khelghar again threatened to take the match away but Rasool showed composure to sign off the game without any hassle. Rasool was unbeaten on 59 and in fact, none of Gazi batsmen other than Rasool and Shamsur could reach double-digit mark. Mahidul Ankon with 57 was Khelghar’s highest scorer.

Brief Score

Khelghar Samaj Kallayan: 138

Mahidul 57, Nazimuddin 21; Rabbi 5-24, Mehedi 2-18

Gazi Group Cricketers: 142/7