Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNB) - Soumya Sarkar has become the first Bangladeshi batsman to score a double century in the List-A cricket scoring unbeaten 208 in the last match to help Dhaka Abahani Limited lift the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League crown at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) ground on Tuesday.

Soumya Sarkar’s magical innings off 153 balls with 14 fours and 16 sixes guided Dhaka Abahani Limited to reach the land mark of clinching Dhaka league crown for 20th time beating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by nine wickets in a high-scoring match, where he also struck 106 in the previous game as well.

With the feat, Soumya has surpassed Raqibul Hasan, who was the holder of the record of hitting the biggest innings of 190 runs in the Dhaka League.

With Soumya's blazing innings, Abahani Limited toppled Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club's 317 for 9 in 50 overs easily with 17 balls to spare making 319 runs for 1 in 47.1 overs as well as to stretch their (Abahani) lead over arch-rivals Mohammedan SC in the overall DPL trophy-winners' list. Abahani have now 12 more than their old rivals Mohammedan’s 12.

Chasing the big target in the List A game, Soumya and Jahurul Islam put up 312 for the first wicket stand, now a record for any wicket in the format in Bangladesh, to put their team within a stroke of victory.

Playing the highest individual innings of the Dhaka League, Soumya hit 16 sixes which is also the record of striking most sixes in an innings of the league. He also hit 14 fours as well. The southpaw ended up on unbeaten 208 off 153.

Earlier, Sheikh Jamal won the toss and opted to bat first. However, the first five batsmen of Sheikh Jamal failed to justify the decision of batting first as they were removed for 85.

But Tanbir Hyder was at his best as he came to bat at number six and hit his maiden ton in List-A cricket. Tanbir returned with unbeaten 132 off 115 balls with 10 fours and six sixes.

Besides him, Elias Sunny and Mehrab Hossain scored 45 and 44 respectively to pass the 300-run mark.

For Abahani, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged four wickets while Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mosaddek Hossain and Soumya Sarkar took one wicket each.

While replying, Soumya and Jahurul Islam posted 312 runs in the first wicket stand, which is now the biggest partnership at any wicket in List-A cricket of Bangladesh.

The tough target of chasing 319 runs became an easy-walk on the park for Abahani due to the astonishing show of Soumya and Jahurul. While Jahurul ended on 100, Soumya kept going and remained unbeaten on 208. The southpaw ended the match hitting a six off Taijul Islam.

Abahani finished the game in 47.1 overs with nine wickets in hand and subsequently clinched the title of Dhaka League for the second consecutive time.

Soumya was adjudged man of the match for his record-breaking knock.

With the day’s well-merited victory, Abahani scored 26 points from 16 games, the same as Legends of Rupganj, who beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by 88 runs in their last game also on Tuesday. But Abahani's superior net run-rate (0.866 to 0.517) helped them clinch the title.

Had Rupganj beaten Abahani in their previous game, they would have lifted the trophy for the first time.

In the other two last round matches, Legends of Rupganj beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by 88 runs and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club beat Mohammedan Sporting Club by three runs.

At Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Legends of Rupganj batted first and posted 327 for four wickets relying on Mohammad Naim’s 136 and fifties from Mehedi Maruf (54) and Mominul Haque (52).

For Prime Bank, Mohor Sheikh, Nahidul Islam, Abdur Razzak and Nayeem Hasan took one wicket each.

In reply, Prime Bank tumbled for 239 all-out in 42.1 overs. Nahidul was the best batsman of them hitting 74.

For Rupganj, Mohammad Shahid bagged four wickets while Nabil Samad and Muktar Ali took two wickets each for them. And in the end, Rupganj won the game by 88 runs.

Mohammad Naim was awarded the man of the match for his ton.

In Fatullah, Prime Doleshwar posted 274 for six with the help of Saif Hassan (55), Shykat Ali (65) and Forhad Hossain (89). Mohammedan failed to chase the target of 275 as they tumbled for 271/9 in 50 overs and lost the match by three runs.

Farhad was the man of the match for his 89.

Uttara Sporting Club and BKSP have been demoted, while Brothers Union survived the playoffs. They will now play in the Dhaka First Division Cricket League, from which Old DOHS Sports Club and Partex Sporting Club earned promotion to the 2019-20 Dhaka Premier League.

Dhaka, Apr 22 (UNB) - Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League is set to come to an end on Tuesday with two do-or-die matches -- Ahabani Limited vs Sheikh Jamal DC and Legend of Rupganj vs Prime Bank CC – to decide the title.

Defending champions Abahani Limited will play Sheikh Jamal Dhanmnid Club at BKSP in Savar while Legends of Rupganj will encounter Prime Bank Cricket Club in Dhaka in their last league matches, also finals for the both teams.

Before heading to their last league matches, Abahani Limited have achieved 24 points from 12 wins and Legends of Rupganj also obtained 24 points from as many encounters. However, Abahani Limited are enjoying upper hand advantages on the points table by of better run-rate.

There is another match in the Super League stage between Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club in Fatullah, but this match is now out of contention as it has nothing to play in the title-deciding.

If Abahani win the last match, they will emerge champions. But if they lose and Rupganj win, Rupganj will be the new champions. At the same time, if both of Abahani and Rupganj win, Abahani will clinch the title relying on their better run-rate.

If both the teams lose their matches, then run rate will decide the title. 

Points Table of Super League before the last round

TEAM            M    W    L    PT    NRR
Abahani        15    12    3    24    0.905
Rupganj        15    12    3    24    0.425
Sheikh Jamal        15    9    6    18    0.023
Dleshwar        15    9    6    18    -0.042
Prime Bank        15    8    7    16    0.134
Mohammedan                 15    7    8    14    0.076
 

Dhaka, Apr 22 (UNB) – The final of the Prime Bank Young Tigers National School Cricket Championship between defending champions Bogura Police Lines School & College and Chattogram Division champions Cumilla High School will be held on Tuesday (April 23) at the Rangpur Cricket Garden.

The title-deciding match will kick off at 9am.
 
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director and General Secretary of Rangpur Division and District Sports Associations Advocate Anwarul Islam and Additional Managing Director of meet’s sponsor Prime Bank Limited Mohammad Golam Rabbani are expected to witness the final and distribute the prizes. 

Earlier in the semifinals on Sunday, Cumilla High School eliminated Barishal Division champions Pirojpur Govt High School by 37 runs while holders Bogura Police Lines High School eliminated Rangpur Division champions Rangpur Shisu Niketon High School by 16 runs. 

A total of 11,120 promising cricketers from 558 schools took part in 958 preliminary round matches across the country, in addition to seven national championship matches, organised by BCB and sponsored by Prime Bank Limited.    
 

Dhaka, Apr 22 (UNB) - Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh on Monday said he is worried about the pace bowlers who have been going through injuries, and who have some niggles. 

“Three out five we have today are injured – Fizz, Rubel, and Saifuddin -- who have the tennis elbow. We need to get them back into bowling, within the right frame of mind, and be sharp enough to do a bit of bowling in Ireland and be ready for the World Cup,” Courtney said while conducting the first practice camp of the Bangladesh squad for the World Cup.

Mustafizur, the left-arm pacer, has been suffering from an ankle injury what he sustained during a game in the Dhaka League on April 11. The chief physician of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said he needs to take rest for two weeks. However, Mustafizur has already started practice.

The southpaw is considered the biggest weapon of the Tigers in the World Cup, according to Walsh. At the same time, he said, Bangladesh do not rely on a single player. 

“He has got a big role to play in the World Cup, once he is fit. But, I don’t think we rely on any one player. Shakib, Mash and Rubel have been consistent. Fizz hasn’t been as sharp since his injury, and he keeps picking up slight niggles. A fully fit Mustafizur can win games for you but we have to have him as fit as possible,” Walsh further said.

“We have a bit of time on our side. My concern is that I hope we don’t over-rush him, and probably use him too much in Ireland, and he is not fresh for the World Cup,” the said.

While Mustafizur has injury at his ankle, Ruble has been nursing a side strain which suffered during a game for Abahani Limited in the Dhaka League as well. Due to that blow, he was out of action since March 25. On the other hand, Saifuddin is suffering from tennis elbow which needs much time to heal. 

On the first day of practice camp, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal were present along with Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman. Most of the other national cricketers are busy playing in the Dhaka League which is set to end on April 23.

Dhaka, Apr 22 (UNB) — Bangladesh started off their World Cup preparation camp on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium with only five players of the squad.

Most of the national players are busy with Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League which will end on April 23. 

The players who were present at the camp on the first day are Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah Riyad, Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman. Most of them batted for more than 30 minutes each on the central wicket of Sher-e-Bangla. 

Mohammad Saifuddin and Soumya Sarkar also came to the camp but they did not take part in any drill.

Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan, the star all-rounder, decided to stay back in India and take part in IPL. He is now set to back home before May 1. 

Apart from Sunil Joshi, all of the other members of coaching staff were present at the camp. According to the current schedule, the camp will continue until April 29 with two rest days.

Tigers will then fly to Ireland to take part in a tri-series involving the hosts and West Indies. They will start their World Cup campaign on June 2 against South Africa. 

Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the 15-member squad on April 16. Abu Jayed Rahi, the right-arm fast bowler, came as the lone surprise as the selectors decided Taskin Ahmed was not fit enough to play in the World Cup. 

The selectors have included uncapped batsman Yasir Ali Rabbi and Nayeem Hasan for the tri-series in Ireland. They said that Yasir and Nayeem could get a chance in the World Cup team if they play well in Ireland.