Mushfiq hundred puts Abahani on course for victory

Mushfiqur Rahim had to wait a long time to play for Dhaka Abahani Limited. And when his opportunity finally came in the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League (BDPL) 2020, he shone on his first outing as he scored 127 to take his side to a strong total. 

Courtesy of skipper Mushfiq's hundred, Mosaddek Hossain's fifty and Mohammad Saifuddin's late cameo, Abahani managed to post a strong total of 289-7 in their match against Partex Sporting Club at Mirpur. 

Winning the toss, Mushfiq opted to bat first. With a star-studded batting line-up, it was expected from the veteran wicket-keeper batsman. But their hopes of scoring big batting first soon perished as they lost both their openers, Liton Das and Naim Sheikh, for a duck. It was a surprise considering Liton's recent international outings where he scored loads of runs.

Within the 22nd over, Abahani were down to 67-5 as Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Aminul Islam Biplob and Afif Hossain were sent back too. But from there on, Mushfiq and Mosaddek put on a 160-run stand to bring the Dhanmondi-based club back into the game. 

Before Mushfiq was sent back by Partex's most impressive bowler Jaynul Islam, Mushfiqur scored 127 off 124 deliveries, consisting of 11 fours and four sixes. Mosaddek also brought his fifty up and scored 61 before getting dismissed. 

Saifuddin put up a show in the death overs as he scored 39 off just 15 deliveries, hitting five sixes. 

In reply, till the time of writing, Partex were on course for a defeat as they required 86 runs off 15 deliveries.