As the Super League got underway, the top three teams faced the bottom three of the super sixes on Friday. However, only one of the three matches ended without any interruption as rain and bad light spoiled the other two.

Legends of Rupganj clinched a 12-run victory over Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity before the weather could disturb the game.

Batting first Rupganj ended up with a below-par score of 216 runs for 8 wickets. Nazmul Hasan Milton was the only batsman who made his mark with an unbeaten innings of 63 runs. However, Rupganj exhibited a brilliant team-work while bowling and restricted the opponents to 204 runs.

Khelaghar opener Mahidul Islam Ankon’s knock of 77 runs alongside his team’s skipper Nazimuddin’s innings of 45 runs couldn't do the job for the side as no other batsman could go past 30 runs.

Asif Hasan, Parvez Rasool, Mosharraf Hossain, and Syed Rasel picked up 2 wickets each for the winning side but the best bowling performance in the match came from Mohammad Saddam who bagged 4 wickets for Khelaghar.

In another clash, Ziaur Rahman’s 86-run innings along with two half-centuries from Shykat Ali and Tanbir Hayder powered Sheikh Jamal to pose a total of 248 runs against Gazi Group Cricketers. Abu Hider took 4 scalps as Gazi Group got the opponents all-out in 47.4 overs.

In reply, Jaker Ali and Asif Mahmud stitched a great partnership in the 5^th wicket after Gazi Group’s scoreline became 84/4. Together they added 87 runs to the scorecard before Jaker Ali returned to the pavilion following his score of 61 runs.

Gazi Group were batting at 217 for 7 wickets with 32 runs required off the last three overs. Asif Ahmed was still at the crease on 52 runs before the game got stopped due to bad lighting. Later on, Gazi Group lost the match by 8 runs as per the D/L method.

Among the bowlers, Robiul Haque scalped 3 wickets for Sheikh Jamal. Ziaur was awarded the Man of the Match for his splendid knock.

The other match of the day witnessed a record-breaking total getting registered by Abahani Limited. A massive 236-run opening partnership saw the team pose a daunting total of 393 runs for 4 wickets in 50 overs.

Both the openers—Anamul Haque Bijoy and Nazmul Hossain Shanto got a century each and Anamul was the first batsman to leave the crease scoring 128 runs. Following his departure, Hanuma Vihari picked up his half-century and contributed 61 runs to the team total.

Meanwhile, Shanto was sent back to the hut by Salauddin Sakil who also dismissed Vihari as well. Shanto made 121 runs and another batsman of his team, Mohammad Mithun, remained unbeaten on 47 runs as Abahani set a new record for the highest team total in the league.

They now hold the record for the top three highest innings totals as they had previously scored 371 and 366 runs in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Both of these totals were scored against the same opponents—Mohammedan Sporting Club.

While chasing the mammoth total, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club lost two quick wickets in 33 runs but then Fazle Mahmud and Marshall Ayub restored their innings by posting an unbeaten partnership of 207 runs.

Fazle clubbed 97 runs and Ayub was batting on 96 before rain marred the match. As the game resumed, Doleshwar’s innings was reduced to 34.1 overs and they needed 36 runs off 13 balls.

Both of the batsmen subsequently picked up a century each but Fazle got out and Doleshwar eventually fell short of 20 runs as Abahani took two points home.

 

Score:

Legends of Rupganj - 216/8 (50 overs)

Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity - 204 (48.5 overs)