Thunder, lightning and a title 17 years in the making

It was all happening at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP).

There was drama at every turn before traditional powerhouse Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited finally ended a 17-year wait to clinch the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) title — their first since the 2009-10 season and their maiden championship since the tournament attained List A status. It was also Mohammedan’s 10th Premier League crown overall.

Yet winning their own match was not enough.

On the adjacent ground, Prime Bank Cricket Club also had to lose. In the end, nature lent a helping hand to the historic club.

Mohammedan sealed the championship courtesy a 63-run victory over arch-rivals Abahani Limited under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, but not before enduring an anxious wait in the dressing room as Prime Bank threatened to spoil the celebrations while facing Dhaka Leopards on the neighbouring field.

It was perhaps a historic day at BKSP. For possibly the first time in DPL history, both Abahani and Mohammedan found themselves supporting the same team.

“I am not sure whether it happened before — both Abahani and MSC supporting a team together in DPL,” Parvez Hossain Emon, who smashed 150 from 116 balls for Mohammedan, told Daily Sun during a rare moment of relaxation with teammates while play was halted because of lightning and bad light.

Mohammedan had done everything possible on their own part. Powered by Emon and Anamul Haque Bijoy’s 141 off 115 deliveries, they piled up a record 406 against Abahani, knowing that once bad weather intervened, the DLS calculations would be firmly in their favour.

Every thunderbolt and flash of lightning was greeted with loud cheers from the Mohammedan dressing room. Players slipped into party mode before the title was officially theirs, blasting music and celebrating prematurely.

Then came a brief break in the rain.

A groundsman at the adjacent ground removed the covers.

The music stopped.

“Will the game proceed between Leopards and Prime?” a member of the Mohammedan management asked anxiously, urging everyone to tone down the celebrations.

Suddenly, tension returned.

The nervousness inside the Mohammedan camp was impossible to ignore, even if few were willing to admit it publicly.

The celebrations finally began for real only after match referee Ehsanul Haque declared Leopards winners against Prime Bank.

What followed was pure release.

Head coach Mizanur Rahman was hoisted onto the shoulders of jubilant cricketers, though the scene took an amusing turn when Mushfiqur Rahim — rarely seen without a serious expression — could not save his coach from a rather rough landing while teammates tossed him into the air.

Mushfiq was at the centre of everything throughout the day, effectively leading the side in the absence of regular captain Towhid Hridoy and making the key calls on the field.

In reply, Abahani reached 178 for 4 in 24.4 overs before lightning and rain brought an end to proceedings. Match officials later awarded Mohammedan victory via DLS.

Meanwhile, on BKSP-4, Prime Bank posted 266 for 8 against Leopards, who were 142 for 3 in 29.1 overs when play was halted. Leopards were subsequently declared winners by nine runs under the DLS method.

The result left Mohammedan on top of the table with nine wins and 18 points. Abahani and Prime Bank both finished with eight wins and 16 points, but Leopards’ victory ensured Abahani secured the runners-up spot on head-to-head record.

Rupganj Tigers tied with Gulshan Cricket Club, a result that condemned Gulshan to relegation alongside Brothers Union on net run rate.

But the day well and truly belonged to Mohammedan.

A long 17 years after their last league triumph, a championship dream survived thunder, rain, nervous glances and an anxious wait before finally turning into celebration.