A round-up of the last week of matches at the Dhaka Premier League, as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi won their maiden title and Prime Bank Cricket Club’s Anamul Haque became the first batter to cross 1000 runs in a List-A tournament in Bangladesh.
Key takeaways
Best batters
But Nurul was better than Anamul in the Super League stage, scoring 357 runs that included three match-winning knocks that handed Sheikh Jamal the DPL trophy. His unbeaten 132 against Rupganj Tigers and 81 not out against Abahani made the big difference.
Best bowlers
Who will be the highest wicket-taker this season? The race continues between left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan and Sheikh Jamal’s Indian recruit Parvez Rasool, with the bowlers on 27 and 26 wickets respectively. Among the pace bowlers, Chirag Jani was the highest wicket-taker with 25 scalps while among the uncapped local pacers, veteran Masum Khan has 20 wickets.
Best match
The defining match of the season would remain Sheikh Jamal’s four-wicket win over Abahani. The defending champions had reduced them to 78 for five chasing 230, but Nurul added 72 runs for the sixth wicket with Rasool, and another 80 for the unbroken seventh wicket with Ziaur Rahman to complete the chase.
Abahani’s 142-run loss against Prime Bank, their biggest in DPL’s List-A history, in the opening Super League match set the tone for this crucial phase of the competition. Prime Bank impressed throughout the Super League but paid for dropping points during the first phase.
In other news
Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity were demoted to next season’s Dhaka First Division Cricket League after they couldn’t break through from the relegation playoffs against City Club and Brothers Union.
Abahani giving away their four consecutive trophy-winning seasons since 2017-18 was a major disappointment, while Mohammedan Sporting Club and Gazi Group Cricketers, despite their big-spending budgets, couldn’t really impress, with Mohammedan nearly slipping into the relegation zone.
Players to watch
Among those below the age of 23, Amite Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Akbar Ali were good with the bat while left-arm spinner Rakibul is fighting for the top wicket-taker’s spot. Left-arm quick Mrittunjoy Chowdhury was impressive as a middle and death bowler among the youngsters.
Naeem led the dad’s army with his 836 runs and 11 wickets while his Legends of Rupganj team-mate Mashrafe Mortaza finished with 19 wickets.