Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity beat Kalabagan Krira Chakra by 15 runs in a hard-fought contest in the Dhaka Premier League at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Chasing 239 to win, Kalabagan found themselves teetering at 34 for 7 in the 11th over. Robiul Islam and Hasan Mahmud had taken out Mohammad Ashraful, Waliul Karim, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Tasamul Haque and Mahmudul Hasan to leave Kalabagan 14 for 5, and Anjum Ahmed had taken the next two wickets in his first over. Khelaghar looked set for an early finish.
Taibur Rahman and Abul Hasan, however, made a gallant recovery with a 136-run eighth-wicket stand. In Bangladesh's List A history, this was the first century partnership after seven wickets had fallen with the team's score less than 100. Taibur made 81 off 113 balls with seven fours while Abul struck four fours and three sixes in his 76. Khelaghar heaved a sigh of relief when Rafsan Al Mahmud broke this stand in the 43rd over, and Kalabagan ended at 223 for 9 in their 50 overs.
Earlier, Ashok Menaria's 95 had helped Khelaghar post 238 in 50 overs. In his 98-ball knock, Menaria struck seven fours and four sixes. Left-arm spinner Rahatul Ferdous took 3 for 44.
In the battle of the Banks at the KSOA Stadium, Prime Bank came out on top with a 42-run win over Agrani Bank. It was their second win in the competition, having lost their last four on the trot.
Batting first, Prime Bank reached 272 for 8 with openers Mehedi Maruf and Mehrab Hossain jnr making fifties. But the real impetus came in the last five overs, thanks to Delwar Hossain's unbeaten 14-ball 41, which contained five sixes and a four.
Agrani Bank started poorly, losing the first three wickets inside 5.3 overs. Raza Ali Dar and Dhiman Ghosh then added 95 for the fourth wicket. Prime Bank, however, wrested back control via their seamers, with Delwar and Rubel Hossain taking three wickets each. Agrani Bank were bowled out for 230 in 46.5 overs.
A string of four 50-plus partnerships helped Brothers Union to a five-wicket win over Shinepukur Cricket Club at the BKSP-3 ground. They scaled the stiff 289-run chase with five balls to spare to pick up their third win.
Myshukur Rahaman, who top-scored with 88, started off with a 54-run opening stand with Mizanur Rahman before adding 61 for the second wicket with Junaid Siddique. Along with the Indian recruit Debabrata Das, Myshukur added a further 69 runs for the third wicket. Das then strung a 72-run stand for the fourth wicket with Yasir Ali.
Myshukur struck six fours and three sixes in his 107-ball knock. Das made 75 off 60 balls with five fours and four sixes, while Yasir struck two sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 34-ball 45.
Earlier, Shinepukur's 288 for 8 was set up by Shuvagata Hom's 98-ball 116, peppered with 12 fours and four sixes. Afif Hossain made 68 off 77 balls.