Abahani annihilate Mohammedan

Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abahani's young batsman, stayed for a while at the crease as he was disappointed with the caught-behind decision. The left-hander pointed to his shoulder while returning to the dressing room and at that time Abahani were 64 for two in 13.2 overs. It however did not cause any trouble or yet another controversy at the BKSP yesterday; instead the sweet sounds of bat bashing the leather showcased the beauty of cricket in a picturesque, open ground.

There was no shortage of entertainment as Liton Das displayed his shot-making prowess on way to regaining form with a hundred. Dinesh Karthik, the wicketkeeper-batsman who has so far played 23 Tests and 71 ODIs for India, took full toll advantage of a toothless Mohammedan bowling attack to hit a century. Exciting though the first half may have been, the rest of the match was still nowhere near the thrill that an Abahani-Mohammedan match usually generates.

Exciting was not a word one could use for this match as Mohammedan succumbed meekly to a 260-run defeat -- the biggest margin of defeat in this List A competition -- in chase of a record total of 371 runs. 

Left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib took the two vital wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Naeem Islam but it was his senior lookalike Shakib Al Hasan who was the wrecker- in-chief, taking five wickets for 18 runs after hammering a hurricane 22-ball half-century.  Mohammedan were all out for 111 runs in 24.3 overs, to the relief of Abahani who were in a hurry to complete the 20-over minimum that constitutes a match, as heavy clouds gathered around Savar. 

Abahani avenged their first-phase defeat in a one-sided game in Mirpur against their traditional rivals in a ruthless manner at a venue regarded as a favourable one for the Dhanmondi-based club.    

The encounter expectedly was devoid of the passion that characterised clashes between the two archrivals in the 1980s and '90s, but it was not too much to expect a quality battle from two strong sides. However, in the absence of regular performers like Naeem Islam Junior and Subashis Roy, Mohammedan's bowling attack looked distinctly ordinary on a flat pitch.

A flurry of short deliveries and half-volleys made it easy but that does not take away from the brilliance of Liton, Karthik and Shakib after captain Tamim Iqbal and Liton put on a 49-run opening stand in 10.2 overs.

Karthik tore the Mohammedan bowling apart during his 97-ball 109 that contained 11 fours and four sixes, Shakib hit a 24-ball 57 with two fours and five sixes before claiming his five-for, but Liton rightly got the man of the match award for his 125-ball 139 that saw 18 fours and a six over mid-wicket against left-arm spinner Faisal Hossain.

It was Liton's batting which set the tone for Abahani and ultimately brought the embarrassment for Mohammedan.

It was nice to watch his effortless cuts, pulls and drives, but he was no less adept at finding the gaps and picking the singles. He started with a brilliant cut to the fence against left-arm pacer Emon Ahmed and completed his hundred with a sweetly timed sweep that cleared the mid-wicket fence.

Mohammedan bowling had no idea about what to do against Liton who was second highest run-getter in the last season but has been struggling in this season before he got the rhythm making 48-run in the previous controversial encounter against Prime Doleshwar at the same venue.

Liton, after the match, expressed his satisfaction over the perfection of shot-making and also credited his 48 in Abahani's last match as a catalyst for his return to form.

SCORES IN BRIEF 

ABAHANI: 371 for 5 (Liton 139, Karthik 109, Shakib 57; Ariful 2-55, Naeem 1-45)

MOHAMMEDAN: 111 all out in 24.3 overs (Naeem 32, Mushfiqur 26; Shakib 5-18, Mosaddek 2-12)

Result: Abahani won by 260 runs.