Known for his fighting spirit on the field, Mashrafe Mortaza once again produced something special to power Abahani Limited to an 11-run win over Agrani Bank in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League on Tuesday. The 34-year old picked up four wickets off four balls in the last over to become the first Bangladeshi bowler to do so in List-A cricket.
Mortaza ended with figures of six for 44 in 9.5 overs as Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam and Fazle Rabby all fell on the consecutive deliveries to the bowler. Overall, he became the seventh bowler in List-A history to achieve this incredible feat. Also, this was the third hat-trick in this season's Dhaka Premier League.
Batting first, Abahani made 290/6 against Agrani. The latter chased well and needed 13 in the last over with four wickets in hand at the Fatullah cricket stadium. Abdur Razzak took a single off the first ball, Dhiman Ghosh who played a good hand of 46 (27 balls) then holed out to long-on. In the next two balls, Mashrafe had Razzak caught at short fine-leg and Shafiul Islam at deep midwicket to complete his first hat-trick in a List-A match. Later, Fazle Rabby's wicket was the icing on the cake for the Abahani supporters.
Earlier, Nazmul Hossain Shanto took Abahani to the big score with his unbeaten 133. Agrani batsman Shahriar Nafees also scored a century as he played a brilliant knock of 121 off 119 balls that included 13 fours and three sixes. Nafees added 146 runs for the third wicket with Raza Ali Dar, who contributed with 62 off 80 balls. But the pair fell within 16 balls of each other, but Dhiman was holding firm until Mashrafe struck four times.
Mortaza is not part of the Bangladesh team that is touring Sri Lanka for the Nidahas Trophy 2018 Tri-nation series, India is the third team in the tournament.
