Mohammad Ashraful smashed a century to steal the show of six-sixes-in-an-over by Naeem Islam and steer Mohammedan to a crucial three-wicket victory over Gazi Tanks in the Dhaka Premier League on Friday. In another match, an unbeaten innings of 90 by all-rounder Mohammad Rafique helped Abahani overcome a batting collapse to record, what looked very comfortable in the end, a 92-run win over CSS.

Both the teams have now won six matches in a row and are virtually through to the six-team super league. Last year’s runners-up Surjo Tarun also kept their super league hopes alive with a 24-run win, their third in six matches, against Partex SC. Mohammedan v Gazi Tanks Shahriar Nafees hammered 70 runs before Misbah-ul Haq made 51 off 50, but they both were overshadowed by Naeem Islam, who hit six sixes in six balls of an over to remain unbeaten on 66 off 31 balls, taking Gazi to 259-6 in 50 overs.

Naeem gave leg-spinner Marshall Ayub a nightmare in the 49th over of the match heaving all the six deliveries over the on-side boundary rope to set a unique record in domestic cricket. But he had to suffer a defeat after Ashraful chose the match to prove his genius as the former Bangladesh captain scored 100 off 115 balls that enabled Mohammedan to reach 261-7 in 49.5 overs. Ashraful, who struck nine fours in his rarely sedate innings, shared a 98-run opening stand with Shamsur Rahman (43) to give Mohammedan a solid foundation.

Just when it looked he would finish the game, Ashraful holed out a catch at mid-wicket to Sohrawardi Shuvo off Abdur Razzak, giving Gazi a glimmer of hope. Mahmudullah Riyad quickly hauled Mohammedan back in the game with run-a-ball 29, but his untimely dismissal left the onus on half-fit Farveez Mohammedan. With Mohammedan needing 24 runs in the last two overs, Maharoof took 17, including two sixes, in the penultimate over bowled by Sohrawardi, which effectively sealed the fate of the match. Maharoof was unbeaten on 36 off 25 balls.

Abahani v CCS At BKSP, Abahani lost their sixth wicket for 61 runs before Rafique and Arafat Sunny took them to a modest 208-8 in 50 overs. The duo put on 111 runs for the eighth wicket with Sunny making 43 off 83 balls. Rafique, who faced 72 balls for his 90, struck six fours and four sixes. CCS, in reply, were all out for 116 in 43.5 overs with Nasir Hossain taking 3-24 for Abahni. Surjo Tarun v Partex A 55-run innings by Myshukur Rahman and an unbeaten 40 from skipper Rajin Saleh lifted Surjo Tarun to 229-9 before they dismissed Partex for 203 runs in 49 overs. Pace bowler Tapash Baishya ripped through the top-order of Partex to return with 5-39.

-New Age