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Half-centuries from Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy powered Abahani Limited to a comfortable five-wicket win against Prime Bank Cricket Club in the opening match of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Super League phase at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
This victory marked Abahani's 12th consecutive win, including an unbeaten streak through all 11 group-stage matches, putting them in a strong position to claim the coveted DPL trophy.
Under the scorching sun, Abahani's bowlers delivered a cohesive performance, dismissing Prime Bank for just 178 runs in 39.2 overs. Pacer Shoriful Islam led the charge with figures of 3-27, supported by his captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's decision to bowl first after winning the toss.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and spinners Tanvir Islam and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat contributed two wickets each, leaving Prime Bank reeling after their top order collapsed. Despite the early setbacks, Prime Bank captain Zakir Hasan held firm with a fighting innings, but it wasn't enough to post a competitive total.
In reply, Litton anchored Abahani's chase with a patient 56 not out from 106 balls, hitting seven boundaries.
However, it was Towhid Hridoy's explosive knock that accelerated the innings, as he smashed 55 off just 27 balls, including four fours and five sixes. This aggressive approach allowed Abahani to comfortably reach the target, finishing at 183-5 in just 38.3 overs.
Abahani's dominant performance in both bowling and batting highlighted their strength as a team, making them strong contenders for the DPL championship. Meanwhile, Prime Bank Cricket Club will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back in the remaining matches of the Super League phase.