Naeem guides Rupganj to safety, DOHS relegated

Naeem’s cameo aided Rupganj to defeat DOHS by six wickets with five balls to spare at Mirpur Tuesday

Legends of Rupganj middle-order batsman Naeem Islam played a captain’s knock to help his team avoid relegation from the Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League Twenty20.

Naeem’s cameo aided Rupganj to defeat Old DOHS by six wickets with five balls to spare at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Tuesday.

Whereas, the defeat for DOHS meant the side emerged as the second team to get demoted to the Dhaka 1st Division Cricket League.

In 13 games, DOHS have eight points.

Partex Sporting Club are the second team to get relegated this season, with a game yet to play in the league, having just one point to their name.

Chasing 122 runs in 18 overs [Duckworth/Lewis method] Rupganj found Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Maruf and eventually Naeem to contribute for the job.

Sabbir and Maruf scored 30 each, while Naeem remained unbeaten on a 14-ball 27 to get the team to safety in the Premier League.

Naeem went to the middle in the 14th over following back-to-back dismissals, those of Maruf and Sabbir to Abdur Rashid.

Rupganj needed another 30 off 24 deliveries, which Naeem helped achieve by hitting four boundaries and an over boundary.

Right-arm pacer Rashid picked up three wickets conceding 22 runs for DOHS.

DOHS were asked to bat first after losing the toss and the side posted 117 losing six wickets in 18 overs.

Opener Anisul Islam scored 51 off 39 deliveries with half a dozen boundaries and an over boundary, while right-arm pacer Mohammad Hossain Ali bagged three wickets for Rupganj.

Earlier in the day and at the same venue, the Super League game between Gazi Group Cricketers and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club ended in no result due to rain and wet outfield.

A point each was awarded to the two teams respectively.

Gazi Group were invited to bat first as they got to play 12 overs and scored 73 runs losing four wickets.

Doleshwar with 19 points are at No 3 in the Super League table, while Gazi Group are at No 4 with 15 points.