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Eskayef Bangladesh Limited lifted the inaugural John Player Gold Leaf (JPGL) Lights Professionals' Cup cricket tournament 1998 after outplaying Babylon Group by 91 runs in the final at the British American Tobacco (BAT) ground in Mohakhali on Wednesday.

Opting to bat, Eskayef were in trouble at 77 for six before Khondokar Mirazur Rahman and Suman Kallyan Basu put on a stubborn 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Eskayef eventually finished with 186 all out with three balls remaining of the stipulated 35 overs.

Mirazur hit a brilliant 49 off 64 balls inclusive of six boundaries while Suman scored a fluent 34 (45 balls) that included two fours.

Openers Sabir Hossain (21) and Sheikh Mahfuzur Rahman (17) were the other notable run getters for Eskayef.

Mizan Murshed of Babylon bowled a superb spell with the new ball and ended the day with figures of five for 27 off 63 overs. Skipper Murad Murshed also shone with the cherry and finished with three for 47 from his seven overs.

In their turn Babylon Group were never up to the challenge of eclipsing the Eskayef total and their innings folded at 95 in 28 overs.

Only Zakir Hussain Manik played an innings of substance with a workmanlike 39 off 74 balls.

Eskayef's opening bowler Mirazur rounded off a memorable day for himself by claiming three wickets for just 18 from seven overs.

Mirazur was given good support from skipper Rashid Ahmed Tareque (two for 22) and Asif Ahmed (two for 12).

Factory Manager of Philips Altaf Hossain, who is also the president of the tournament committee, handed over prizes after the match.

Mirazur of Eskayef was adjudged man of the match while another Eskayef all-rounder Mahfuzur Rahman - 1 who scored 247 runs and took eight wickets in the competition - was unanimously declared man of the tournament.

In his concluding speech, President of the tournament committee thanked all the participants of the eight-team tourney and promised a better and more exciting Professionals' Cup in the coming years.

Eight office teams - Eskayef Bangladesh Limited, Babylon Group, British American Tobacco, The Daily Star, Nestle Bangladesh Limited, BOC, Credit Agricole Limited and Philips took part in the tournament.