Brothers set for relegation; Mushfiqur reaches 12,000 List A runs

While Agrani Bank Cricket Club secured victory after Brothers Union players boycotted their match at BKSP over unpaid wages, the remaining five games of the Dhaka Premier League’s ninth round on Friday were pushed to the reserve day following rain interruptions.

Brothers Union, who have only two points and are already at the bottom of the 12-team standings, will now be relegated because of the walkover, according to CCDM officials.

Despite the rain, there were several eventful innings and spells across the five matches, particularly in the Mohammedan Sporting Club versus Gazi Group fixture at PKSP Ground 2.

Mushfiqur Rahim produced the standout performance of the day, reaching his century off just 54 balls. The Mohammedan batter eventually made 100 off 55 deliveries, hitting eight fours and six sixes before being dismissed in the 41st over of a curtailed 42-over innings.

With his 16th List A century, Mushfiqur also reached 12,000 runs in List A cricket, becoming the first Bangladesh batter to achieve the milestone.

Mohammedan captain Tawhid Hridoy also continued his excellent form, scoring back-to-back centuries with an unbeaten 101 off 66 balls. He and Mushfiqur added 173 runs for the third wicket, a partnership that helped Mohammedan post a commanding 334 for four. Earlier, openers Anamul Haque and Mohammad Naim had both struck fifties.

In reply, Gazi Group reached 41 for two in 4.3 overs before rain halted play.

At BKSP-3, Irfan Shukkur’s 119 off 99 balls and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 72 off 70 deliveries helped Legends of Rupganj post 275 all out against Abahani. Mustafizur Rahman, playing his first and possibly only match of the ongoing edition, impressed with a four-wicket haul, taking four for 30 in 9.4 overs for Abahani.

After a rain break, Abahani were set a revised target of 163 in 20 overs. They reached 51 for one before rain returned and forced the match into the reserve day.

At the ULAB Cricket Ground, Bashundhara Strikers were 106 for two against Dhaka Leopards in 27.5 overs when rain stopped play. Saif Hassan was unbeaten on 54, while Nurul Hasan Sohan was on 40.

At the Bashundhara Sports Complex, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain took five for 37 to help City Club bowl Gulshan Cricket Club out for 201. However, City Club were left struggling at 42 for seven in the chase before rain interrupted proceedings, delaying what appeared to be an inevitable defeat.

At the Cricketers Academy ground, Prime Bank Cricket Club reached 75 for one in 17 overs against Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club before that match also suffered the same rain-hit fate as the other fixtures on Friday.