As expected, Bangladesh Biman finished on top of the Premier League table on the concluding day of the competition's first phase yesterday but not the easy way.

After eleven rounds, Biman moved to 19 points with Thursday's thrilling two-run victory over contenders BKSP while the tussle for the last Super League berth ended when City Club beat Victoria by 28 runs and Old DOHS lost to Partex by four wickets in a rain-affected match. City go through on 11 points, three ahead of both Victoria and DOHS.

Four teams at the bottom of the table -- Partex, Kalabagan, Sonargaon and Young Pegasus — tied on six points after Partex, Sonargaon and Pegasus won their respective matches.

A one-wicket victory over close rivals Kalabagan gave Pegasus a lifeline while Sonargaon shocked Surjo Torun by 24 runs in a curtailed match.

BIMANVBKSP

Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad took the key wicket of Nasir Hossain (61) in his four-wicket haul and ran out Shakib Al Hasan to end BKSP's

chances but some late-order resistance ensured a tight affair at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

With two runs required for victory, Biman wicketkeeper Sajjad Kadir's accurate throw ran out Moshiur Rahman and BKSP were bowled out for 217 in the penultimate delivery of the match.

Earlier, opener Tamim Iqbal struck his third half-century to give Biman a solid start. Tamim creamed six boundaries in his 93-ball knock of 60 runs but the middle-order had little to offer as BKSP restricted Biman to 219-6 in50 overs.

BKSP finish fourth in the table as they continue their impressive run in their debut Premier League season.

VICTORIAVCITY

At the outer BKSP cricket ground, Rasel Al Mamun and captain Imran Ahmed gave City Club the ideal start as they shared 134 runs for the opening wicket Rasel scored 71 off 86 balls with two sixes and four boundaries while Imran's 57 was laced with four hits to the fence. Some hefty hitting from Arafat Salahuddin (23 off 16 balls) ensured City reached 253-6 in 50 overs.

Victoria made a poor start and only recovered when Pakistan-bound Tigers Mahmudullah Riyad and Dhiman Ghosh struck 56 and 57 respectively to give them a

glimmer of hope. But the chances of them and Old DOHS were dashed when Zahoor Elahi's innocuous off-spin removed both batsmen and gave City the 28-run victory and a ticket to the Super League.

YOUNG PEGASUS V

KALABAGAN

Despite a century from Nazmus Sadat, Kalabagan only managed 235 before being all out in 49.4 overs at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.

Sadat smashed nine boundaries in his 104 off 119 balls while new captain Shahbaz Butt struck 53 off 93 balls. But Kalabagan's middleorder collapsed in a heap as Nazmul Islam took four wickets.

Pegasus replied in earnest with both openers Rabiul Islam and Rahat Sadekscoring half-centuries.

But all was gone for Pegasus and it was left to captain Jubair Ahmed (34 off 25 balls) and number eleven Mamun Hossain to salvage a victory with 35 required off 22 balls. They managed it with a ball in hand from Rokibul Hasan’s final over.

SONARGAONV

SURJO TORUN

Veteran opener Mehrab Hossain smashed 57 as Sonargaon posted 195-4 in 30 overs at the main BKSP cricket ground. Mehrab cracked three sixes and two boundaries in his innings.

But Surjo Torun, already confirmed of a Super League place, were restricted to 171-7 in 30 overs after left-arm paceman Kamrul Islam took three for 39.

DOHSV PARTEX

Partex captain Tariq Ahmed Ruben took the game away from Old DOHS with his array of sixes at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. Chasing 187 to win, Ruben came to bat after opener Rafiqul Islam felled by a short ball from Forhad Reza.

Ruben opened his shoulders and smashed six sixes during his 47-ball knock that yielded 41 runs. Partex's Pakistani recruit Rashed Hanif chipped i n with 31 off 39 balls with two sixes and a boundary. Off-spinner Mahbub Alam was the pick of the bowlers, taking two for 35.

Earlier, on a pitch that had spin and bounce, Mohammad Furkan, who took five for 21, foxed Old DOHS to be bowled out for 186 in 36.5 overs. Due to Wednesday's storm, the match started almost three hours late and was reduced to 37-overs-a-side.

Former national captain Rajin Saleh scored 49 off 58 balls but had to leave the ground when his side fielded after breaking the middle finger of his right hand.