Big three teams start DPL campaign with victory

Reigning champions Abahani Limited began their Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2023-24 campaign with a bang after they registered a massive 171-run win over Partex Sporting Club on the opening day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.

Meanwhile, current runners-up Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited and Prime Bank Cricket Club also started the tournament on a winning note after they beat Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy and Shinepukur Cricket Club by six wickets and 71 runs respectively in Savar and Narayanganj.

Abahani VS Partex

Big three teams start DPL campaign with victoryDespite not getting the service of the majority number of cricketers due to national engagement, Abahani posted a decent 268-9 in their 50 overs after Sabbir Hossain made the highest 71 off 59 balls while skipper Mosaddek Hossain scored 42 off 48 balls.

Abahani got off to a rollicking start as their openers Sabbir and Mohammad Naim (37) put up 107 runs in just 18 overs after they were sent into bat first.

Pacer Asaduzzaman Payel hit back with three quick wickets to bring Partex back in the contest but alongside Mosaddek, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (34) and Mohammad Saifuddin (31) played some handy knocks to help Abahani post a decent total on board.

Partex, in reply, faced the wrath of Abahani’s bowlers as left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam claimed 4-26 while Saif Uddin and Rakibul Hasan took two wickets each to bowl their opponents all out for just 97 runs in 32.4 overs to clinch a comprehensive win.

Sheikh Jamal VS Gazi Tyres  

Opener Ashikur Rahman Shibli, who recently represented Bangladesh in the U-19 World Cup, struck an unbeaten 89 off 133 balls but the rest of the batters failed to contribute to such level as Gazi Tyres were bowled out for 167 runs in 47.5 overs after they were sent into bat first at the BKSP-3.

Sheikh Jamal’s Tipu Sultan claimed 4-30 in his 10 overs.

Saif Hassan then made 45 runs while Yasir Ali and skipper Nurul Hasan Sohan remained not out on 44 and 31 runs respectively as Sheikh Jamal raced towards 168-4 in just 31.4 overs to hand their opponents a big defeat.

Prime Bank VS Shinepukur

Despite being reduced to 127-9, Prime Bank got a respectable score of 196 runs thanks to Najmul Islam Apu (40) and Rubel Hossain (23), who shared a 69-run stand for the last wicket.

Prime Bank skipper Tamim Iqbal earlier could make only 17 runs before he was dismissed by Hasan Murad (2-40). Mukidul Islam Mugdho (4-42) and Arafat Sunny (3-29) shared seven wickets between them.

Prime Bank pacer Hasan Mahmud then made the task difficult for Shinepukur as he claimed 4-16 while Sunzamul Islam took three wickets to bowl Shinepukur all out for 125 runs in 41.5 overs.

Meanwhile, in today’s other opening-round matches, Legends of Rupganj will take on Brothers Union in Mirpur while Mohammedan SC and Gazi Group will face City Club and Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club at two BKSP grounds.