DHAKA, June 4, 2021 (BSS)—Domestic powerhouse Abahani Limited showed a ruthless performance to clinch their third straight victory in the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (DPL) as they outclassed Brothers Union by nine wickets today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
The victory effectively took them to the to spot of the point table with six points in three matches.
Medium pacer Tanzim Hasan Shakib, the Under-19 World Cup winning member, played the anchor role in the crushing victory in a rain-affected game, claiming 3-9 in two overs.
He was key in restricting Brothers to 101-5 in a game reduced to 11 overs due to rain. Opener Mohammad Naim and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim then did the rest, helping the side to reach the winning target of 102 for the loss of one wicket in 9.5 overs.
Mushfiqur was unbeaten on 37 off 21, hitting six fours while Naim hammered 26 ball-36, with two fours and one six. They added 64 off just 38 in an undefeated second wicket partnership to make the victory a cake-walk.
Opener Munim Shahriar first bashed Brothers bowlers to keep Abahani’s nose in front. He smote four fours and one six to blast 25 off 12 before being out by Habibur Rahman.
Earlier Abahani reduced Brothers to 51-6 in 7.4 overs, thanks to Shakib, who ripped through the middle order, aided by Arafat Sunny who ended with 2-5 in two overs.
Brothers however made a carnage towards the death with Alauddin babu and Zahidduzaman tearing Mehedi Hasan Rana apart to make 51 runs off just 20 balls. Rana conceded 37 runs in two overs and remained wicket-less.
Babu clobbered 24 off 10 with one four and three sixes while Zahiduzzaman’s 25 came off 10 balls and he struck two fours and as many sixes. But at the end it was not enough to challenge the defending champions.
Abahani earlier beat Partex by seven wickets before sealing a 22-run win over Old DOHS. Brothers’ first match against Prime Doleshwar was washed out due to rain but they stunned Legends of Rupganj by eight wicket in the second game.