Bangladesh and Abahani captain and Najmul Hossain Shanto's poor form in red-ball and T20Is had seemingly carried over to the 50-over format as the batter was struggling to score runs in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL). But the batter seemingly turned a corner yesterday against Legends of Rupganj when he hit his first century in almost a year.

Chasing Rupganj's 292 for 6 yesterday at BKSP Ground 3, Shanto held the innings together by stitching a 107-run stand with Jishan Alam after Parvez Hossain Emon fell for nought.

Shanto reached his ton in 106 deliveries before departing to Mahedi Hasan in the 36th over after a 108-ball 101, laced with 12 fours and two sixes.

However, Mominul Haque and Mahfuzur Rahman contributed with unbeaten 35 and 31 respectively to ensure Abahani coasted to a four-wicket win and remained top of the league.

Shanto's previous ton in any format had also come in the DPL when he hit 101 off 84 deliveries against Gazi Group Cricketers last year also for Abahani. In that season, he had hit two tons in five matches for Abahani, who were crowned champions.

His last ODI ton too had come a little over a year ago, when he struck an unbeaten 122 against Sri Lanka in Chattogram in first of three ODIs.

Shanto did not get much of an opportunity to shine in the recently-concluded Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and in his last four innings for Abahani this DPL before yesterday, he managed 88 runs with 37 being his highest contribution.

Meanwhile, Gazi Group posted a huge score of 336 for 5 against Mohammedan Sporting Club to pick up a 65-run win at BKSP Ground 4 to climb to second position in the table above third-placed Mohammedan.

Prime Bank also picked up a 55-run win over Dhanmondi Sports Club courtesy of Shamim Hossain's stormy 37-ball 62 which helped them post 308 for 5 before Hasan Mahmud and Arafat Sunny bagged three each to bowl Dhanmondi out for 253.

Highlights

*Mohammedan pacer Taskin Ahmed leaked record runs in Dhaka Premier League, conceding 107 runs for three wickets against Gazi Group Cricketers in his 10 overs at BKSP Ground 4 yesterday. It was the most expensive spell in Bangladesh's List A cricket. Previously, the record was jointly held by pacers Shahadat Hossain and Iqbal Hossain Emon, who had conceded 104 runs each.

*Taskin's national team bowling partner and Abahani's star pacer Nahid Rana too did not have the best of days in Abahani's win, conceding 71 runs in 10 overs despite starting his spell with two maidens.

*Anamul Haque Bijoy struck his 21st List A ton during his unbeaten 149 against Mohammedan. Bijoy had managed two fifties this season and his big score yesterday allowed Gazi Group to post 336 for 5 and paved the way for the 65-run win.