Mohammedan, Abahani taste their first defeat in DPL

Mohammedan and Abahani tasted their first defeat in Dhaka Premier League (DPL) T20 today. Both the teams won their first three matches in the tournament. 

Mohammedan playing against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, lost the match by 16 runs at Mirpur. 

Sheikh Jamal set a target of 162 runs in front of Shakib-led Mohammedan after surviving the early mess, thanks to Nurul Hasan Shohan for his blistering 66 off 34 balls. 

Sheikh Jamal were 5 down for 81 in 14.1 overs. They bagged 80 more runs in their last 6 overs. 

Shohan remained unbeaten on 66 with four boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 194. 

All-rounder Ziaur Rahman came in to bat at number 7 and remained unbeaten with a quick-fire 35 off 17 balls. He struck one boundary and three sixes. 

Shakib Al Hasan bagged a brace from his 4 overs for 12 runs. Abu Hider also bagged 2 wickets but he was a tad expensive. 

Chasing 162 seemed to be an impossible task for Mohammedan right from the word go. 

They were 4 down inside the first five overs and only managed to score 38 runs at the end of the 10th over.

Shakib failed with bat, once again and went back to the pavilion after scoring only 2 from 9 balls.

Nadif Chowdhury was the sole warrior for Mohammedan. He bagged 57 from 43 balls but it was never enough. 

Nurul Hasan Shohan was adjudged the man of the match for his match-winning 66.

Khelaghar shock Abahani

Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity beat Abahani Limited by nine runs in the ongoing Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Divisions Twenty20 Cricket League on Monday at BKSP.

Imtiaz Hossain hit 66 off 46 balls with six fours and three sixes to guide Khelaghar to 164 for six in 20 overs. 

To chase down the target of 165, Abahani needed to score 48 runs in the last five overs with six wickets in hand.

But one of the strongest teams in the league manage 39 runs and lost the game nine runs losing only one wicket off the last ball of the game.

Two of the last five overs bowled by Khaled Ahmed. He conceded only 12 runs and bagged the wicket of Mosaddek Hossain who was Abahani's biggest hope to seal the game.

Along with Mosaddek, Afif Hossain was at the wicket in the death overs but failed to impress. Afif faced 16 of the last 30 balls and scored 21 runs while playing the other 14 balls, Mosaddek added 17 runs. Abahani managed only two fours and one six in the last five overs.

Mohammad Naim and Najmul Hossain Shanto were the best batsmen for Abahani in this game. Both of them scored 49 each but failed to continue on a good run. Mosaddek fell prey to Khaled off the last ball for 21 while Afif remained unbeaten for 22.

For Khelaghar, Rony Chowdhury and Khaled scalped two wickets each while Rafsan Al Mahamud bagged one.

Earlier, Imtiaz's 66 guided Khelghar to 164 for six in 20 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the second-highest runs getter for Khelaghar scoring 33.

For Abahani, Arafat Sunny and Mosaddek took two wickets each.

It was the first defeat of Abahani in this league. Before this game, they were at the top of the table with three wins in three games.

In the other games on Monday morning, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club beat Shinepukur Cricket Club by four wickets and Brothers Union beat Old DOHS Sports by four wickets.