DPL: Abahani pip Sheikh Jamal at the final hurdle to lift 21st title

Abahani Limited clinched the Dhaka Premier League title for the 21st time and the fourth time since the tournament became a List-A competition. They beat defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by four wickets in a last-over finish at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in front of a crowd of at least one-thousand, and a full press box. It concluded Bangladesh's domestic season with its most successful team returning to win the coveted trophy for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Abahani and Shiekh Jamal Club, coincidentally both from the Dhanmondi neighbourhood, went into this game on 26 points each after Abahani dropped crucial points in the penultimate round against Gazi Group Cricketers. If Abahani had beaten them on May 10, this game would have been just a formality. Abahani didn't fall at the final hurdle, though, winning the title they first won in the 1974-75 season.

Prime Bank Cricket Club took third position after their 73-run win against Gazi Group, while Legends of Rupganj finished the season with a four-wicket defeat against Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Abahani's Mohammad Naim struck two fifties in the last two matches, including a 145-run opening stand with Anamul Haque in the finale against Sheikh Jamal. Naim (932 runs) and Anamul (834 runs) finished as the top two run-getters in the tournament. Anamul's three centuries were the most in the competition.

Afif Hossain was adjudged player-of-the-match for his unbeaten 60 in the last game. He also finished the competition with a bit of a flourish, much needed for a man vying for a World Cup place. Among the young batters, Naim and Saif Hassan stood out with their runs while Amite Hasan and Tanzid Hasan struck hundreds each.

Sheikh Jamal's overseas recruit Parvez Rasool was the tournament's highest wicket-taker. He took 33 wickets with 17.93 average and two four-wicket hauls. Shinepukur Cricket Club's left-arm spinner Hasan Murad was the highest wicket-taker among the home bowlers, taking 25 wickets at 18.40 average. His 3.97 runs per over was also remarkable. City Club's Robiul Haque was the local fast bowler with most wickets, taking 23 wickets.

Abahani beating Sheikh Jamal in the tournament finale stood out. Sheikh Jamal recovered from 16 for 3 in the fifth over, to take 79 runs in the last five overs to take their total to 282 for 7 in 50 overs. Nurul Hasan's unbeaten 89 powered the Sheikh Jamal total, hitting eight fours and three sixes in his 70-ball stay.

Abahani's openers Naim and Anamul added 145 for the opening stand but the middle-order couldn't immediately take advantage. But Afif added 68 runs for the fifth wicket with Mosaddek Hossain, before completing the win with a 14-run unbroken seventh-wicket stand with Tanzim Hasan Sakib who hit the winning boundary.

Apart from the six Super League clubs, Rupganj Tigers, Brothers Union, City Club and Shinepukur remained in the Dhaka Premier League for next season. From the league below, Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy and Partex Sporting Club earned promotion for next season's DPL. Agrani Bank and Dhaka Leopards go down to the Dhaka First Division Cricket League.

Afif and Parvez Hossai Emon had a 100-plus strike-rate among batters to score more than 500 runs in this season. Mahmudullah's pursuit for a World Cup spot got a bit of a boost with six fifties for Mohammedan. Afif too will be in the selectors' mind. Anamul Haque and Naim have done enough to be considered as backup openers in the ODI setup.

Among the younger bowlers, Robiul Haque, Tipu Sultan and Sumon Khan were among the wickets. Mrittunjoy Chowdhury did enough to earn an ODI spot, but Tanzim and Rejaur Rahman will also be in the bowling coach's mind.