Chasing 244 to win, DOHS never recovered from an early disaster and a rearguard action from experienced campaigners like skipper Akram Khan, Enamul Haque and Hasibul Hossain only minimised the margin of loss .

Victoria, who were humbled by Agrani Bank in the league's opener, cameback strongly against the fancied team of the league. Having been put in, they prospered on half centuries from Pakistani middle-order batsman Fahadullah Khan and Bangladesh wicket-keeper Khaled Mashud and some erratic bowling to reach 243 for seven.

Mashud and Fahadullah featured in a decisive a 150-run fifth wicket partnership but DOHS should feel terribly disappointed by the staggereing 44 extras they bowled. The chief perpretatrors here were the country's fastest bowler Shahadat Hossain Rajib and the seasoned Hasibul who sent down nine wides each.

Once the job had been done with the bat, towering left-arm paceman Shafaq Al Jabir came up with a sensational spell for the second match running.

His five-wicket haul against newcomers Agrani Bank could not prevent defeat but here, the youngster pulled the stuffings out of DOHS' vaunted batting line-up with four wickets for 24.

Shafaq, bowling at a lively pace on a pitch that offered encouragement to pace bowlers throughout the game, took the first three wickets to reduce DOHS to 26-3 by the eighth over.

He began with trapping Hannan Sarkar (3) lbw with the first ball of his second over when the Bangladesh opener decieded to let go an incoming delivery which thudded on to his pads. It was action-replay of Hannan's ill-fated confrontations with West Indian left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins during the West Indies tour in May-June.

Next came the biggest blow when Zahoor Elahi, whose unbeaten century had enabled DOHS overcome City Club in their first game, was out for only six when he also became an lbw victim as he tried to play across.

The situation became worse as Shafaq sent Al-Shahriar's stump flying and out of favour Bangladesh left-hander Faisal Hossain Dickens was run out by a brilliant left-handed throw by Sakib Al Hassan from square-leg with the scoreboard reading 49. Without any addition to the total, DOHS lost their fifth wicket when Shafaq relieved opener Mushfiqur Rahim, who faced 42 balls for two, of his miseries as the Bangladesh U-19 batsman gave a tame return catch in the 15th over.

The circumstances were nothing new to Akram. But this wasn't to be his day. The former national captain hit 46 off 78 balls with three fours and one six during two important stands, 42 with Nadif Chowdhury (8 off 39 balls) and 51 with Enamul (37 off 55 balls) before holing out to Alok Kapali at extra-cover off the bowling of left-arm spinner Saqib.

In the last ten overs, DOHS needed 102 runs but Akram's departure ended any semblence of hope. Hasibul's hit a quickfire 26 off 29 balls to delay the inevitable.

Earlier, Hasibul (3-33) and Nazmul Hossain (3-47) used the new ball on a green top wicket intelligently to make inroads. Struggling at 50-4 after 12 overs, Fahadullah and Mashud salvaged Victoria and took them past the 200 mark without any further damage. Fahad made a cautious 63 off 108 balls with one four and a six.

Man-of-the-match Mashud, who sent the ball to the ropes five times including one reverse-sweeped stroke, played 103 balls for his 72. Alok Kapali came up with a cameo unbeaten 20 (12 balls) towards the end.