Abahani hold nerve to win DPL title

Abahani Limited have crowned winners of the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (DPL) T20, beating Prime Bank Cricket Club in the last Super League round.

Both teams came into this match with 22 points, losing in their respective last outings which made Saturday’s afternoon encounter a virtual final.

Opting to bat first, Abahani lost Mohammad Naim Sheikh off the delivery of the innings to Mustafizur Rahman. Liton Das looked to continue his last match’s form but he fell scoring 13-ball 19, leaving Abahani at 31/3.

Najmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mosaddek Hossain settled in for a 70-run stand. Shanto top scored with 45 off 40, striking 3 fours and 2 sixes, while Mosaddek made a steady 39-ball 40. Mohammad Saifuddin’s late 13-ball 21* took the total to 150/7.

Rubel Hossain picked up 2/22 while Mustafizur went fot 37 runs after the first-ball strike. Shoriful Islam (1/22) and Nahidul Islam (1/20) played their part in restricting.

Prime Bank ran out of batters in the run chase, losing 5 for 66 in 10.2 overs. Opener Rubel Mia made 43-ball 41 as the asking rate kept climbing. Alok Kapali came in at nine to battle for his side. He smashed Saifuddin in a 16-run 19th over to leave another 16 runs to win.

But Shohidul Islam, like he did in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup final last year, kept his calm despite a Kapali six to deliver an 8-run victory. Kapali remained stranded on 17-ball 34* runs, including 2 fours and 3 sixes.

Saifuddin was the man of the moment for Abahani as he bagged four wickets for 36 runs, with two of them coming in the powerplay.

Abahani were the winners in the 2019 List A format DPL. That year Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club clinched the first-ever DPL T20 title.

Brief scores:

Abahani Limited 150/7 in 20 overs (Shanto 45, Mosaddek 40, Saifuddin 21*; Rubel 2/22)

Prime Bank Cricket Club 142/9 in 20 overs (Mia 41, Kapali 34*; Saifuddin 4/36, Rana 2/30)

Abahani Limited won by 8 runs, Player of the Match: Mohammad Saifuddin