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DPL week one: Naim, Sunny impress; defending champions Dhanmondi Club start in style

Brothers Union and City Club remain winless after playing three matches each

Mohammad Isam
Mohammad Isam
22-Mar-2023
Mohammad Naim scored 110 off 86 against Mohammedan Sporting Club  •  BCB

Mohammad Naim scored 110 off 86 against Mohammedan Sporting Club  •  BCB

Defending champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are among the four clubs who have claimed full points with wins in all of their respective matches in the first week of this season's Dhaka Premier League. The other teams who have gone unscathed are Abahani Limited, Prime Bank and Legends of Rupganj.
Abahani climbed to second place after their six-wicket win over old rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
Brothers Union and City Club remain winless after playing three matches each.

Best batters of the week - Mohammad Naim and Irfan Sukkur

Left-hand batters Mohammad Naim and Irfan Sukkur are currently on top of the batters' charts. Naim's unbeaten 110 was decisive in Abahani's big win over Mohammedan. Brothers Union's Tanzid Hasan made a run-a-ball 142 against Legends of Rupganj.
Mominul Haque, playing for Rupganj Tigers, smacked a 41-ball 74 against Mohammedan.

Best bowlers - Elias Sunny and Alauddin Babu

Left-arm spinner Elias Sunny took a five-wicket haul against newcomers Dhaka Leopards, while Alauddin Babu took his five-for, which included a hat-trick, against Gazi Group Cricketers. Fast bowlers have had a good run so far - four other four-wicket hauls have all been by quick bowlers.

The close match - Legends of Rupganj vs Brothers Union

Legends of Rupganj beat Brothers Union by three wickets in a high-scoring match at the BKSP-3 ground. Rupganj chased down the target of 300 with eight balls to spare, with Chirag Jani top scoring with 94. Earlier, Tanzid scored 142 to take Brothers Union to 299 for 5.

Players to watch

Akbar Ali, the much-talked-about Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, started this DPL season with a fifty for Gazi Group Cricketers. He is the only big name from that 2020 batch to have not made it to the Bangladesh senior side yet, so Akbar will be looking at maximising his opportunities this season.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84