Rupganj trump Liton ton

Liton Das continued his impressive form but his third hundred went in vain as a 140-run opening partnership between Abdul Mazid and Mohammad Naim guided Legends of Rupganj to a five-wicket victory against Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in the Dhaka Premier League's Super League match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

A brilliant top-order batting display helped Rupganj bounce back from a seven-wicket defeat against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the previous match to tally 16 points and trail only leaders Abahani in the six-team table. Gazi Group also came back strong from their 73-run loss to Abahani in the previous round as they beat Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity by 34 runs at BKSP yesterday. Gazi increased their total to 14 points.

At Mirpur, Liton displayed brilliant stroke-play during a fine 107 off 126 balls that contained nine fours and two sixes. Along with Imtiaz Hossain (29 off 66 balls with three fours) he added 69 for the opening wicket and then contributed 113 runs for the second wicket with Fazle Mahmud, who scored 46 off 64 balls with one four and one six.

It was however number six batsman Iqbal Abdulla's unbeaten 22-ball 42 and Forhad Reza's 22-ball 29 that made sure that Doleshwar posted a fighting total of 257 for five.

Rupganj made the perfect start in chase of the target, riding on a 140-run opening partnership in 28.5 overs. Mazid hit 58 off 90 with five fours and a six while Naim struck the team-highest 88 off 101 balls with six fours and five sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Naeem Islam then maintained the tempo of the chase. Mushfiqur scored a 36-ball 41 with three fours and two sixes and Naeem chipped in with a 36-ball 31. Parvez Rasool's brief 19-ball 23 cameo , during which he hit two fours and a six, helped Rupganj overtake the total with eight balls and five wickets in hand.

At the BKSP in Savar, it was the season's sixth instance of a team crossing the 300 mark as Gazi Group posted 304 for six through a strong top-order batting display after opener Jahurul Islam's dismissal in the third over.

Imrul Kayes and Mominul Haque first repaired the early damage with a 96-run partnership for the second wicket. Imrul made 63 off 56 balls with six fours and three sixes. Mominul added 47 off 69 balls with five fours.

Sikandar Raza then took charge to hammer 90 off 84 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes. Asif Ahmed's 32 and Nadif Chowdhury's 35-ball 45 were the other notable scorers.

In reply, a 108-run opening stand between Robiul Islam and Mahidul Islam in 20.2 overs provided a platform but the Khelaghar innings lacked the necessary momentum to overcome the big total. Robiul hit 67 off 63 balls and Mahidul added 69 off 94 balls.

No one else could step up to challenge put forth by Gazi and Khelaghar were ultimately bundled out for 270.