Defending Champions Abahani Limited further bolstered its chance to defend the title after thrashing Gulshan Cricket Club by 50 runs for their second straight victory in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Super Six phase on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Opener Parvez Hossain Emon led the charge with 70 ball-83, an innings laced with eight fours and four sixes.
Thanks to his whirlwind batting, Abahani managed to put up 278 before being all out in 49.5 overs.
Gulshan headed for a big margin defeat but No. 8 batter Nihad Uz Zaman attacked in style to hammer 73 balll-82 not out with six fours and five sixes as Gulshan were wrapped up for 228 in 50 overs.
Mohammad Mithun played his role well with 45 for Abahani after Emon gave the side a platform despite his fellow opener Shariar Komol fell for cheaply.
He dominated the second wicket stand with Jishan Alam and added 74 runs. Later some small but significant contributions from the middle order and lower middle order batter helped Abahani amass a match-winning total.
Rayhan Ali Ikram and Farhad Reza picked up three wickets apiece for Gulshan.
Abahani bowlers then took wickets at regular interval to indicate to make the game a lopsided affair. As they destined for a big margin victory, Nihad Uz Zaman intervened as he hit the bowlers all corner of the park, much to the surprise of Abahani bowlers.
As the ninth wicket fell, Gulshan were still 125 runs away from the victory but Nihad added 74 runs with Rayhan Ali to reduce the margin.
In this partnership Rayhan contributed just 5 before being out in the last ball of the innings.
SM Meherob Hossain, Rakibul Hasan, Mahfuz Rabby and captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat bagged two wickets each for Abahani. �"BSS
