Mohammedan Sporting Club ended their 16-year wait for the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) title with a commanding 63-run victory over Abahani Limited under the DLS method, powered by brilliant centuries from Enamul Haque Bijoy and Parvez Hossain Emon.
Mohammedan finished the league stage at the top of the table with 18 points from 11 matches, winning nine and losing two. Abahani Limited and Prime Bank Cricket Club both finished with 16 points, but Abahani secured the runners-up spot due to a superior head-to-head record.
Heading into the final round, Mohammedan needed two results to go their way to secure the championship: they had to defeat Abahani, while Prime Bank needed to lose their match. Both conditions were fulfilled as Prime Bank suffered a nine-run DLS defeat to Dhaka Leopards.
At BKSP Ground No. 3 on Friday, Mohammedan were sent in to bat first after losing the toss. Openers Enamul Haque Bijoy and Parvez Hossain Emon put on a batting masterclass, scoring 141 off 115 balls and 150 off 116 deliveries respectively, helping Mohammedan post a massive 406 for 4 in their allotted 50 overs.
Bijoy's innings featured 11 fours and nine sixes, while Emon struck 10 fours and 12 sixes. Afif Hossain added a quick-fire 61 from 33 balls, and Anisul Islam Emon remained unbeaten on 30 from just 16 deliveries.
For Abahani, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Jisan Alam, Meherob Hossain and Sabbir Hossain claimed one wicket each.
Chasing a daunting target of 407, Abahani reached 178 for 4 in 24.4 overs before lightning and rain forced play to stop during the 25th over. As conditions did not allow the match to resume, the DLS method was applied. At that stage, Abahani needed to be on 242 runs, leaving them 63 runs behind the required score.
As a result, Mohammedan were declared winners by 63 runs and crowned DPL champions for the first time since 2010.
Taijul Islam, Taibur Rahman, Mushfik Hasan and Naim Ahmed picked up one wicket each for Mohammedan. Parvez Hossain Emon was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 150-run knock.
