Towhid Hridoy believes the intensity and emotional weight of "a few matches in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL)" push players to give more than they often do in international cricket, after Mohammedan triumphed by 39 runs over their arch-rivals Abahani in a high-stakes DPL fixture on Saturday.

Mohammedan, led by Hridoy, clinched the contest at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to finish the league phase second in the standings, behind league leaders Abahani.

There was added joy for Mohammedan as it was their first List-A victory over Abahani since 2016, after a streak of 11 winless matches.

"Pressure is always there, both in international cricket as well as in domestic cricket. There are a few matches in the Dhaka Premier League in which I feel more pressure than I usually do in international cricket," Hridoy told reporters in Mirpur yesterday.

"Since there is tradition here, it becomes a game of egos, and prestige is at stake. You can feel the Abahani–Mohammedan rivalry in the DPL. I think there are many players who have put in more effort here today than they have put in international matches. I've enjoyed it."

After asked to bat, Mohammedan gained from a one-man show as opener Aminul Islam Emon scored a 118-ball 114, hitting 18 fours and two sixes. The right-hander stitched a 123-run stand with Mahidul Islam Ankon (48 off 55 balls).

However, there was little to get excited about from the rest of the Mohammedan batters, with the next highest score being Mushfiqur Rahim's 26-ball 20. After Ankon's dismissal, they were 156 for two in the 26th over, eyeing a 300-plus total, but were eventually bundled out for 264 in 48.2 overs.

Abahani's Nahid Rana was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 49, while Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Rakibul Hasan, and Mahfuzur Rabby picked up two apiece.

"It was a big match. It's always a cause for excitement whenever Abahani and Mohammedan face off. It gets very competitive too. We focused on ourselves and what we wanted to do," said Hridoy, who played for defending champions Abahani last year.

"Credit has to be given to Emon [Aminul Islam] for the way he started off; he batted very well. We were always in a dominating position because of the way he batted. It wasn't easy and, apart from one or two batters overall, no one could play with ease on this wicket, which was a bit tricky -- normally what we get in Mirpur. We were always confident that 250 on this wicket was enough."

In response, Abahani got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets inside the first 11 overs with 59 runs on the board. A 67-run stand between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque (19 off 18 balls) followed, but Abahani were pegged back when they lost half their side in the 28th over, with 133 runs needed off 132 balls.

Shanto played through the innings with a 113-ball 80 and had help from Mosaddek Hossain (24 off 21 balls) and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury (24 off 33 balls), but the pressure got the better of the Abahani batters as they eventually folded out for 225 in 47.2 overs.

Ebadot Hossain starred with four wickets for 36 runs for Mohammedan, while Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Saifuddin picked up two each.