Premier Cricket: Abahani emerge as champions

Abahani Limited emerged as champions in the KAI-ALTECH Metropolis Premier Division Cricket League with one match in hand as they beat Victoria SC by seven wickets in a super league match at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium on Thursday.

The popular sky-blue metropolis club had to wait seven years to claim the championship as they last achieved the Premier League title in 1999-2000 season.

Another metropolis giant Mohammedan SC is in the runners-up race as they crushed Old DOHS SC by 150 runs in another match at the BKSP-2 in Savar.

In the day's other match, Sonargaon Cricketers earned an emphatic seven-wicket win over Bangladesh Biman at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium (DCS).

After the day's matches, Abahani Limited secured highest 25 points, followed by Mohammedan SC with 22 points and Sonargaon Cricketers 21 points, all playing 15 matches.

On the other hand, Victoria SC remained at 18 points, followed by Bangladesh Biman on 17 points and Old DOHS on 13 points, also playing 15 matches.

At the NOS, man of the match pacer Talha Zubair claimed four wickets for 25 runs in 6.3 overs enabling Abahani Limited to dismiss Victoria SC, sent to bat first, for 172 runs in 47.3 overs.

In reply, Abahani cantered to their target of 173 runs in 38.4 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Earlier, sent into bat first, Victoria SC opener Nasiruddin topscored 78 runs off 122 balls with 10 fours while another opener Imrul Kayes made 30 off 41 balls with five fours.

Apart from Talha's four wickets, spinner Suhrawardy Shuvo grabbed three wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs while Nayeem Islam took two wickets for 29 runs.

In response, number three Nayeem Islam and Sri Lankan recruit Upul Chandana remained unbeaten on 40 and 43 runs respectively to take Abahani to an easy victory.