Fresh from their 65-run thrashing of pre-tournament favourites Bashundhara Group a couple of days ago at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Biman snatched a three-wicket win over GrameenPhone at the same venue to storm to the top of Group A with maximum six points from three matches.

Mobile phone operators GrameenPhone stuck on five points after four games and dropped to third place from the top after former national captain Naimur Rahman spun Bashun-dhara to a 37-run victory against pointless Gazi Tank at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

It was Bashundhara's third win from four games and they are now enjoying the lead with Biman.

Away at Fatullah Stadium, MM Ispahani Limited apparently escaped embarrassment against the BCB Development Squad. Minhajul Abedin's Ispahani, chasing 153 to win, were struggling at 33-3 when rain fell much to their relief.

The match will be replayed but the organising committee could not confirm the schedule.

The abandoned match, however, marked the return of former national paceman Shafiuddin Babu to competitive cricket after a year.

Shafiuddin, who has recently been acquitted of murdering a university girl, bowled six overs without any success.

BIMAN V GRAMEENPHONE
It was another new face in the Biman ranks who proved to be their match-winner hot on the heels of left-arm spinner Mossaraf Hossain Rubel (6- 31) against Bashundhara.

Interestingly Humayun Kabir is also left-arm spinner and he grabbed his chance with 4-34 to effectively kill off GrameenPhone's hopes of piling up a big score.

The 23-year-old from Rajshahi, removed Alok Kapali, Khaled Mahmud, Tushar Imran and Tamim Bashir to send Grameen-Phone crashing to 183 in 48.2 overs.

He also top-scored with 39 as Biman reached the target with three overs to spare.

Any hopes of a late Grameen-Phone show were dashed when Biman wicketkeeper Sajjad Kadir struck a cameo 23 off 15 balls.

Coming to bat in the 40th and Biman uncomfortably placed at 143-6, Sajjad launched his assault in the very next over, smashing two fours and a six off former national cricket captain Mahmud to bring Biman closer to home.

It was yet another disappointing outing for Mahmud, whose bat has yet to click. Alok Kapali also failed to inspire after GrameenPhone got off to a cautious start.

BASHUNDHARA V GAZI TANK
Naimur Rahman, arguably the country's best off-spinner but who has failed to earn a recall to the national team, captured five wickets for 42 runs to help Bashundhara bowl Gazi Tank out for 191 in 47.2 overs.

Still searching for their first win, Gazi Tank threatened to topple Bashundhara's fighting 228-8 when they had reached 128-2 after 35 overs.

But Naimur, who took charge in the absence of injured captain Akram Khan, exploited a turning wicket to destroy Gazi Tank in his 10-over spell.

Earlier, opener Jamal Faisal cracked eight fours and two sixes in a quickfire 78-ball 71 in his first CCL appearance while a lanky Sabbir Khan made 55 off 82 balls to shape the Bashundhara innings after they elected to bat.