A day of spectacular chases
On a day of spectacular chases in the Dhaka Premier League, Mohammedan Sporting Club pull off a thrilling three-wicket win against Premier Bank Cricket Club half an hour after promotees Shinepukur Cricket Club rode on their young brigade to post a six-wicket victory over Kalabagan Krira Chakra today.
However, the day's most spectacular run-chase was reserved for Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Sangha. After being reduced to 40 for 3 while chasing Agrani Bank's fighting 259 for 8, Mahidul Islam Akon and Ashok Al Menaira produced a magnificent 221 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket for a rousing seven-wicket win at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah.
Akon, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, hit a sublime 115 while Rajasthan's experienced left-hander Menaira hammered 113 as Khelaghar reached the victory mark of 261 for 3 in 47.4 overs. Akon struck half a dozen sixes and four fours in his 131-ball undefeated knock. Menaira hit nine fours and three sixes in his run-a-ball innings.
Earlier, Agrani Bank recovered from a hopeless 160 for 6 to post a fighting total mainly due to a combative 54-ball 56 from Jahid Javed and a whirlwind 17-ball 30 from veteran spinner Abdur Razzak. Agrani opener Soumya Sarkar (26) once again got a start but failed to make it big. Masum Khan, Robiul Islam and Rafsan Al Mahmud picked up two wickets each for Khelaghar.
Away at the BKSP in Savar, Mohammedan were staring down the barrel when they were reduced to 205 for 7 while chasing Prime Bank's 259 for 9. But a combative 55-run stand for the unbroken eighth wicket between Enamul Haque and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took Mohammedan to their third win.
Taijul followed up his 3 for 53 with an unbeaten 35 off 36 balls studded with a couple of boundaries and a six. Enamul scored a 33-ball 32. The pair not only rotated the strike well but also negotiated the searing pace of Rubel Hossain at the death.
Opener Rony Talukder with a 59-ball 64 gave Mohammedan a good start but they lost their way after experienced right-hander Raquibul Hasan departed after scoring a quick-fire 64 that contained five fours and three sixes.
Taijul's all-round show however overshadowed Mohammed Al-Amin's fine 110. The Prime Bank top-order batsman held the innings together when wickets fell like nine pins. Sent into bat, Prime Bank were reduced to 36 for 6 before Ariful Haque joined Al-Amin to produce 161 runs for the seventh wicket. Al-Amin hit nine fours and a couple of sixes in his 126-ball knock. Ariful struck 87 off 100 balls laced with four fours and as many sixes.
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, half centuries by Afif Hossain and Towhid Hridoy, the two members of the Bangladesh youth team that took part in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, propelled Shinepukur to a comfortable six-wicket win against Kalabagan.
Hridoy scored a 71-ball 63 while Afif hit an unbeaten 67 as Shinepukur raced to 233 for 4 in 42.3 overs. But it was experienced off-spinning all-rounder Shuvagata Hom who won the player-of-the-match award for picking up three wickets for 34 runs that helped Shinepukur restrict Kalabagan to a below-par 232-9 in 50 overs.
Shuvagata also hit an unbeaten 30 to expedite the victory.
Earlier, Kalabagan recovered well from 3 for 18 with Akbar ur Rahman (71) and Mahmudul Hasan (52) hitting fifties and pace bowling all-rounder Abul Hasan hammering a 27-ball 47. But it was not enough for Kalabagan to avoid their fourth defeat in five games.
However, on completion of the fifth round today, Mohammedan and Shinepukur joined the crowded second spot behind runaway leaders Abahani with six points each.