Soumya Sarkar and Jahurul Islam performed superbly to seal the game for Abahani. Soumya bagged four wickets conceding 34 runs in 10 overs, while Jahurul struck an unbeaten 91.
Abahani won the toss and sent Prime Doleshwar to bat first at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. They scored a moderate total of 224 for nine wickets.
The defending champions took control of the match in the third over when Mohammad Saifuddin bagged the wicket of wicketkeeper-batsman Imran Uzzaman who fell for two.
They lost the second wicket in 27 runs. However, in the third wicket stand, Farhad Hossain and Shykat Ali added 57 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the wicket of Shykat when he was on 23. Farhad struck 47, Doleshwar’s highest individual score. Marshall Ayub and Taibur Rahman contributed with 40 and 41 respectively, and their Pakistani recruit Saad Nasim posted 34.
For Abahani, Soumya was the best bowler taking four wickets while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza took two for 48 in 10 overs. Saifuddin, Mehidy and Sabbir Rahman took one wicket each.
In reply, Abahani reached the target in 48.5 overs (227/6).
Abahani lost their first three wickets in 23 runs when Soumya fell for 10 and Najmul Hossain Shanto and their Indian recruit Priyank Panchal got dismissed by Abu Jayed and Farhad Reza respectively without adding anything on the board.
But Jahurul and Mohammad Mithun helped them take control again posting 63 runs in the third-wicket stand. Mithun, back to the playing XI after recovering from a hamstring injury, struck 40 while Jahurul batted firmly on the other end.
Sabbir and Mosaddek Hossain fell for 24 and 2 respectively. It was anyone’s game at that point after Abahani lost six wickets in 135 runs. However, Jahurul and Saifuddin’s 92-run partnership in the sixth wicket stand ensured a stunning win.
Saifuddin remained unbeaten at 55 off 69 deliveries with seven fours.
It was Abahani’s eighth win in nine rounds of the league while Doleshwar suffered their third loss in as many rounds.