Ziaur Rahman single-handedly took Dhaka Sports Club to the final of the Habib Group PCL Twenty20 tournament with a six-hitting frenzy that took his side to a thrilling three-wicket victory against Abahani at the MA Aziz stadium here yesterday.
But Dhaka Sports fell into early trouble in their chase of 154 runs, losing their top order very early. But Zia blazed sixes and fours in the final half-hour to take his side through to the first-ever final of the PCL against Brothers Union, to be held today from 5:00pm with private television channel ATN Bangla providing live coverage.
Zia, coming into bat at number six and his side in huge trouble, added 21 for the fourth wicket with Anisur Rahman (35) and a further 25 with Rubel Biswas (7). But then the tall right-hander cut loose, smashing 23 runs off Frank Karunaratne's 16th over. The medium-pacer was peppered over the midwicket boundary for a six and three boundaries in the over. After adding a whirlwind 40 off 15 balls with Taposh Ghosh (10), Zia saw his batting partner cleaned up by Maksudul Hasan off the last ball of the 17th over, leaving 36 needed from 18 balls. Zia reached the fastest 50 of the tournament off just 20 balls and made sure the sixes kept coming, smashing Talha Jubair for a maximum over long-on. Next over, Zia struck Rahat over long-off's head but when trying to repeat the feat over long-on, Karunaratne dropped a simple chance. Next ball, Zia smashed it over his head to make sure just three runs are required off the final over.
Paceman Rabiul Islam, who took three early wickets, conceded three singles with Zia taking the winning run.
Expressing his joy after the match, Ziaur said he never thought of the result and he tried to stay in the crease to see the final result.
"At first, I would like to thank Almighty Allah and later my teammates, who helped me to play from one side," Ziaur said.
"I believed that if I can stay on crease despite the disaster, it will bring something," said Ziaur who was surprisingly overlooked for Bangladesh's World Cup Twenty20 squad.
Earlier, Abahani opener and the tournament's most expensive player Tamim Iqbal and Rabiul scored 48 in 7.4 overs. Tamim smashed 54 runs off 46 balls with five boundaries and a six.
Sri Lankan Chamara Silva made sure the total went above the 150-mark with an unbeaten 36 off 31 balls.
BRIEF SCORES
ABAHANI: 153-6 in 20 overs (Tamim 54, Silva 36*, Karunaratne 24, Hannan 14; Rajin 3-19, Hanif 1-21).
DHAKA SPORTS CLUB: 154-7 in 19.3 overs (Ziaur 78*, Anisur 35, Taposh 10; Rabiul 3-16, Maksudul 2-43, Enamul 1-25, Talha 1-27).
Result: Dhaka Sports Club won by three wickets.
Man-of-the-match: Ziaur Rahman.
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