Gazi keep losing

Star-studded Gazi Tank Cricketers couldn't get out of the losing streak as they went down to Kalabagan by 87 runs in their Premier League clash yesterday. However, it was business as usual for Biman who earned their fourth win in four matches by beating Partex by 17 runs. In the other match of the day, Victoria also recorded an easy 22-run victory over Khelaghar.

Gazi Tank were boosted by the return of their national stars, all-rounder Nayeem Islam and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, after the series against Zimbabwe. But their presence didn't seem to cheer up the hapless Gazi Tank who now have only one win and a draw under their belt from four rounds. It was once again their power-packed batting line-up that failed miserably to lead them to this drubbing at the hands of Kalabagan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Batting first, Kalabagan put on a challenging total of 235 for the loss of eight wickets in their stipulated 50 overs, thanks to a few decent knocks in the middle-order. Former national opener Javed Omar (47) was the top-scorer for Kalabagan while dependable middle-order batsman Rokibul scored 32 runs. Razzak picked up three for Gazi with a miserly spell conceding 30 runs, while Forhad Reza chipped in with two.

Chasing 236 runs is always a tall order for any team, and it became even taller when Gazi found themselves in a precarious position with three of their top-order batsmen already back in the pavilion for nine runs.

And they were pushed almost out of the game when in-form batsman and last match's centurion Shahriar Nafees departed after scoring 19. Skipper Alok Kapali (56) found some form with the bat as he tried to resurrect the innings with support from Sohrawardi Shuvo (20), but soon after Kapali left and Forhad Reza followed one ball later, the Gazi innings lost its course and eventually stumbled to 148 all out in just 37.5 overs. All six Kalabagan bowlers got in the wicket column, the most impressive though was left-arm spinner Enamul Haque with figures of 2 for 15 in eight overs.

At Fatullah, Sharifullah put in an all-round performance as in-form Biman got the better of Partex. Sharifullah's 62-run knock from 86 deliveries was the backbone of the Biman innings that got skittled for 192 in 48.1 overs. Sharifullah later bowled a miserly spell of 10 overs conceding only 18 runs taking one wicket to squeeze the Partex run-chase. There were two thirty-some scores in the Partex innings, but all-too-little for them to overhaul the Biman score.

Partex were not helped either by the five leg-before-wicket dismissals to their top five batsmen. Paceman Tareq Aziz took three wickets while his opening-ball partner Talha Jubair took two wickets as Partex folded for 175 in 48.2 overs.

Victoria edged past Khelaghar at BKSP. Batting first, Victoria posted a healthy total of 217 for the loss of 8 wickets in their quota of 50 overs. It was a concerted effort from all down the order, the highest coming from the bat of opener Arman Hossain (50). Victoria skipper Mohammad Sharif scored second highest 36.

Khelaghar found it hard to score freely from the very beginning and kept losing wickets regularly. A 62-run partnership in the 7th wicket between Masum Khan (32) and Masum Khan (42) brought them back in the game, but Saju Dutta put paid to Victoria's hopes removing those two and the number eleven in quick succession to skittle Khelaghar out for 195 in 48.5 overs.