Against the odds, MSC back on top
A horrendous collapse from Prime Bank Cricket Club handed Mohammedan an unlikely win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday in the eighth round of the Dhaka Premier League. Mushfiqur Rahim's Mohammedan were bowled out for 224 on a rain-interrupted Tuesday and ended up winning the match by 82 runs.
In the day's other game, Tamim Iqbal's Abahani overcame a brilliant century from Shamsur Rahman to beat Gazi Group Cricketers by 32 runs at Fatullah. Both these matches were played on the reserve day yesterday due to the afternoon rains that interrupted the games in Monday.
The highlight of yesterday was the manner in which Sabbir Rahman's Prime Bank collapsed. Chasing a target of 225, they were cruising at a 113 for one in 21 overs. However, once Sabbir was trapped in front by pacer Subashis Roy, the game changed. Ariful Haque came on in the next over and, as he has been doing so often in this league, immediately got among the wickets by dismissing the settled Mehedi Maruf.
They ended up losing their last nine wickets for just 29 runs. Subashis ended up with figures of three for 49 in 10 overs, while slow left-arm spinner Naeem Islam Jr finished with four for 21 in 4.4 overs.
While Subashis and Ariful ran through the middle order with their pace, Naeem came in towards the end and wrapped up the tail with four wickets.
The win has brought Mohammedan back to the top of the table with 12 points. Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, which won its game on Tuesday are the only other club on 12 points.
A brilliant 136 from Shamsur, who smacked 13 fours and three sixes, went in vain as Gazi Group were bundled out for 244 in their chase of Abahani's 276. While the rest of the batsmen failed, Shamsur stood strong at one end for most of the game and scored his knock off 130 balls.
Taskin Ahmed had scalped two wickets in the very first over of the game and Gazi Group were struggling at none for two. They lost three more wickets within the first 13 overs and were teetering at 64 for five. Taskin, Shahadat Hossain -- playing his first game since his return from his ban -- and Abul Hasan were the bowlers who took those three wickets.
Despite the collapse, Shamsur stayed on and managed to provide a scare by building partnerships with the lower-order batsmen. However, they ended up losing by 32 runs. Taskin was the key wicket-taker, finishing with four scalps.
SCORES IN BRIEF
MOHAMMEDAN: 224
PRIME BANK: 142 all out in 32.4 overs (Mehedi 48, Sabbir 41; Naeem 4-21, Subashish 3-49)
Result: Mohammedan won by 82 runs.
ABAHANI: 276
GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS: 244 all out in 48.1 overs (Shamsur 136; Taskin 4-32, Abul 2-38, Bhatia 2-46)
Result: Abahani won by 32 runs.
Comments