Mohammedan get off the mark

Mohammedan Sporting Cub registered their first win in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL) as they beat Khelaghar SKS by five wickets in a low-scoring encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.

Despite being bundled out for just 148 runs after being asked to bat, Khelaghar put up an admirable fight in their defense of a small total as they kept Mohammedan batters under pressure right from the word go. Mohammedan, however, were still able to reach the target in 40.1 overs.

Khelaghar pacer Hossain Ali bowled a fiery spell as he removed opener Rony Talukder and Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez in consecutive deliveries in the fifth over of the innings. Hossain, however, had to leave the ground after bowling 2.5 overs due to a muscle strain.

Opener Parvez Hossain departed after scoring 36 but Soumya remained not out on 59 off 100 balls, striking two fours, while Ariful Islam added thirty as Mohammedan sealed their victory.

Meanwhile, there was controversy regarding umpiring as the Khelaghar players displayed their dissatisfaction after two of their caught behind appeals – against Rony and Soumya Sarkar – were turned down by the umpire.

Earlier, courtesy of Nazmul Islam's four for 18 in 10 overs and Hafeez's three-wicket haul, Mohammedan were able to restrict Khelaghar to a meagre total. Skipper Nadif Chowdhury scored a team-high 33 for Khelaghar.

In the other match of the day, Brothers Union chased down a 281-run target to register their first win of the tournament by sealing a three-wicket win over Shinepukur Cricket Club at BKSP-3. 

Brothers' Imtiaz Hossain and Ahmed Sadequr added 159 runs for the opening stand to lay the foundation for the victory. Sadequr top-scored with 84 off 73 balls while Imtiaz added 78 runs. 

Myshukur Rahman also scored 48 runs while Dhiman Ghosh added 26 runs that helped Brothers reach the target in 49.1 overs.

Earlier, Shinepukur rode on Zimbabwean batter Sikandar Raza's unbeaten 65-ball 74, featuring four sixes and three fours, and Tasamul Haque's 68 to post a commendable 280 for six in fifty overs.