In the fight to avoid the relegation of the Dhaka Premier League, all the chances of City Club ended in the first match. After Hafizur Rahman’s fifty, Gazi Tires Cricket Academy kept the hope of surviving with the great bowling of two left-arm spinners and two off-spinners.
Gazi Tires won by 41 runs in the first match of the relegation league on Tuesday at BKSP ground number 3. City Club was bowled out for 131 runs with 69 balls left in the target of 173 runs.
Both the teams won two matches each in the preliminary round. This time, the chances of avoiding relegation by winning the relegation league are bright for newcomer Gazi Tires. After losing this match, City Club went down to the first division after three years. Even if they win against Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club in their last match, they will not be able to prevent relegation by avoiding the complex equation of head to head.
Ghazi Tires hero Shamim Mia in the short run match. He took 4 wickets for just 21 runs with two maidens in 10 overs. Another left-arm spinner Aridul Islam got 2 wickets at the cost of equal runs. Two off-spinners Iftekhar Sajjad and Leon Islam took 2 wickets each.
Hafizur Rahman is the master of bringing capital to the bowlers to fight. He scored 74 runs off 129 balls at number four. He hit 2 fours and 1 six.
After winning the toss and batting, Gazi Tires lost wickets regularly from the beginning. Ashiqur Rahman, who shone in the U-19 Asia Cup last year, disappointed once again. Iftekhar Hossain, Mohabbat Hossain could not do anything.
Hafizur and Shamim made the team’s highest partnership of 42 runs for the fourth wicket. Shamim got out after scoring 23 runs off 37 balls. After that, no other pairs were formed. Hafizur took the team past 150 by keeping one end.
Moinul Islam and Sohail Rana took three wickets each for City Club.
Shamim pushed City Club on the back foot early on with a small goal. He dismissed Hasanuzzaman in the second over. Later, another opener Sadikur Rahman, who scored the team’s maximum 37 runs, was also returned by the left-arm spinner.
Then Jayraj Sheikh, Shahriar Komal, Ashiq ul Alamra led the team in small innings. But as no one could increase the innings, it was of no use to the team.
City Club lost the last 7 wickets in just 24 runs.
Summary Score:
Ghazi Tires Cricket Academy: 172 in 47.3 overs (Iftekhar Hossain 2, Mohabbat 12, Ashiqur 23, Hafizur 74, Shamim 23, Tahzibul 4, Ashraful 10, Iftekhar Sajjad 1, Aridul 7, Iqbal 2, Lyon 2*; Ifran 9.3-0-48 -2, Rony 10-1-22-0, Mainul 10-0-46-3, Sohail 9-1-19-3, Rafsan 9-0-30-1)
City Club: 131 in 39.3 overs (Sadikur 37, Hasanuzzaman 1, Shahriar 26, Jayraj 29, Ashiq 22, Sazzadul 5, Rafsan 5, Mainul 0, Ifran 0, Rony 1, Sohail 1*; Iqbal 6-0-35-0, Shamim 10-2-21-4, Leon 5.3-2-21-2, Iftekhar Sajjad 8-0-32-2, Aridul 10-2-21-2)
Results: Gazi Tires Cricket Academy won by 41 runs
Man of the Match: Shamim Mia
