MSC escape weather scare

Inclement weather cost defending champions Abahani one point in the Premier Cricket League after the second attempt to hold their match yesterday failed but archrivals Mohammedan were lucky enough to avoid a washout.
Mohammedan seemed to bury a wretched start to the season by winning their second consecutive match when they handed Partex SC a six-wicket defeat at the Fatullah Stadium, where a 33-overs match was played despite heavy overnight rain.
Mohammedan were originally scheduled to play the match at BKSP but a venue change by the organisers came as a blessing.
Both the matches were revised after a washout on Tuesday and Abahani were pitted against BKSP at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. Abahani and debutant BKSP both won one point each according to bylaws.
Mohammedan, who had lost all their group matches in the Twenty20 League, won rather convincingly as undefeated half-centuries by Imrul Kayes and Faisal Hossain guided them to 170 with three overs remaining in reply to Partex's 168-8 in the allotted 33 overs.
Kayes, who lost his opening partner Rashedul Haque in the second over with just one run on board, anchored at one end with wickets falling regularly.
After Nadimuddin, Rokibul Hasan and Indian recruit Ajit Chandela fell cheaply, Kayes repaired the damage pairing with Faisal. The two left-handers added 91 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket.
Kayes hammered six fours in his 81-ball 66 while Faisal produced an entertaining run-a-ball 52 not out laced with four fours and two over-boundaries.
Kayes was adjudged man of the match for batting throughout the innings.
Earlier, skipper Manjurul Islam elected to field and the left-arm pacer led from front taking two wickets for 27. Fellow new-ball bowler Tapash Baisya also chipped in with 2-30.
Partex, however, put on a decent total as Tariq Ahmed (30 off 46 balls) and Pakistani all-rounder Rashed Hanif (68 off 84 balls) helped the side recover from a precarious start.
Coming together at 12-3, the two shared in a significant 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Ariful Haque contributed 29 off 28 deliveries in the latter part of the innings.
SCORES IN BRIEF
PARTEX: 168-7 in 33 overs (Tariq 30, Hanif 68, Ariful 29, extras 14, Manju 2-27, Tapash 2-30, Shuvo 1-28).
MOHAMMEDAN: 170-4 in 30 overs (Kayes 66*, Nadimuddin 10, Rokibul 16, Faisal 52*, extras 16, Dipojjal 1-32, Tariqul 1-24).
Result: Mohammedan win by six wickets.