Mohammedan in title race beating Abahani

In one of the most anticipated encounters of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL), Abahani and Mohammedan faced off on Saturday (April 12). Mohammedan emerged victorious, defeating their arch-rivals Abahani by 39 runs. This crucial win has significantly boosted Mohammedan’s chances of clinching the league title.

After the 11th round of the league, both teams are now tied with 18 points each at the top of the points table. However, Abahani holds the top spot due to a superior net run rate, with Mohammedan following closely in second place. Both teams have won 9 matches and lost 2 so far in the tournament.

At the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Mohammedan, batting first, posted a total of 264 runs in 48.2 overs, losing all their wickets, thanks to a century by Anisul Islam. In response, Abahani was bowled out for 225 runs in 47.2 overs. Anisul was named the Player of the Match for his century.

Abahani's captain, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, fought hard with the bat to keep his team in the game against Mohammedan. However, other batsmen failed to make an impact. Towards the end of the innings, Abahani needed 50 runs off 30 balls to win, with just 2 wickets remaining. But they lost the last two wickets after adding only 10 more runs to the scoreboard, handing a brilliant victory to Mohammedan in this prestigious encounter.

The way Anisul and Mahidul Islam Ankon were batting, it seemed only a matter of time before Mohammedan's score would surpass 300. However, due to a batting collapse, they were unable to reach the 300-run mark, falling just short. The total score they managed to post was largely thanks to Anisul's remarkable contribution. He was the cornerstone of Mohammedan's batting lineup, playing an exceptional innings of 114 runs off 118 balls. His crucial wicket was taken by Abahani's pace star, Nahid Rana. Before getting out, Anisul struck 18 boundaries and 2 sixes in his century.

On the other hand, Ankon played a solid knock of 48 runs off 55 balls, hitting 5 fours and 1 six. The opening partnership was broken after 22 runs, but then Anisul and Ankon formed a 123-run stand. After their partnership was broken, no one else stepped up to take responsibility. After Ankon's dismissal, Mushfiq (20) and captain Towhid Hridoy (3) failed to stabilize the innings. In a performance dominated by Anisul, Mohammedan had reached 156 runs in the first 25 overs.

After Anisul’s dismissal in the 38.3rd over, Mahmudullah Riyad (17) and Mehedi Hasan Miraz (18) also failed to make significant contributions. The tailenders couldn't provide any further support, and Mohammedan was eventually all out for 264.

For Abahani, Nahid Rana was the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 49 runs. Rakibul, Mahfuzur, and Mrittunjoy each took 2 wickets.

Chasing a target of 265 runs for victory, Abahani found themselves struggling at 59 for 3. However, the partnership between Shanto and Muminul brought some relief to the team. Despite their efforts, Abahani's batting collapse could not be halted, as other batsmen failed to contribute significantly.

Shanto fought hard with a knock of 80 runs, trying to keep his team in the game. For Mohammedan, pacer Ebadat Hossain was the star with the ball, taking 4 wickets on his own. Alongside him, Saifuddin and Miraz each took 2 wickets, helping to bundle Abahani out for a loss.