Mosaddek’s 49-ball ton in vain as City Club stun Abahani

Mosaddek Hossain’s valiant unbeaten 101 off 50 balls went in vain as defending champions Abahani slumped to their second successive defeat in the ongoing Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, suffering a two-wicket loss to City Club in their second-round clash at the Cricketers Academy on Thursday.

Mosaddek hammered a 49-ball century -- the joint-fastest by a Bangladesh player in List A cricket alongside Habibur Rahman Sohan -- smashing six fours and 10 sixes to propel Abahani to 209 for five in a rain-curtailed 27-over contest after they were sent in to bat. Opener Jishan Alam also chipped in with 54 off 44 deliveries.

In reply, Mehedi Maruf struck 71 off 56 balls while Tahjibul Islam remained unbeaten on 40. Mohammad Enamul blasted 22 off just seven deliveries and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain added 25 off 11 as City Club raced to 210 for eight in 25.4 overs to register their first win of the tournament.

Elsewhere, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Gazi Group Cricketers, Legends of Rupganj and Prime Bank Cricket Club maintained their winning starts with victories in their respective second-round fixtures.

An all-round show from Taibur Rahman, who scored 74 and claimed two wickets, guided Mohammedan to a five-wicket win over Brothers Union at the Bashundhara Sports City Cricket Ground.

Munim Shahriar smashed 92 off 58 balls as Gazi Group secured a commanding 182-run victory over Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club.

At Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan-3, Samiun Bashar starred with an unbeaten 116 off 70 balls, featuring six fours and 10 sixes, before returning figures of 3-42 to lead Legends of Rupganj to an 83-run win over Bashundhara Strikers in a high-scoring affair.

At the ULAB Cricket Ground, Shahadat Hossain Dipu’s 75 off 66 balls inspired Prime Bank to a 32-run victory over Gulshan Cricket Club in another rain-affected encounter.

In the day’s other fixture, Agrani Bank Cricket Club defeated Dhaka Leopards by 31 runs at the Pubergaon Krira Shikkha Protistan to open their account in the tournament. The match began half an hour late due to a traffic jam.