Abahani scrape thru’ to semis

Big Boss T20 Premier League 2009
Abahani scrape thru’ to semis
Abahani set up an early showdown with bitter rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club after an eventful group stage of the Big Boss Premier T20 League that also offered a surprise package in Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity in the semifinal line-up of the season’s curtain-riser.
Abahani recorded a seven-wicket win against Cricket Coaching School at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. Still, they had to wait for a Kalabagan victory against Surjo Torun under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium to progress to the last four by virtue of having head-to-head advantage against Kalabagan after both teams finished on six points each.
Gazi Tank set up the other semifinal clash with Khelaghar, a surprise package who recorded an exciting three-run win over BKSP at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.
Both the semifinals will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium tomorrow.
Mohammedan put on yet another emphatic performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday against a lacklustre Biman to sound out a warning to other title contenders. Chasing an easy target of 113 on a very good batting track, Mohammedan batsmen made a mockery of the Biman bowling overhauling the target in just 9.5 over, losing just a single wicket in the process. Mohammedan’s high-price summer signing Tamim Iqbal played an outrageous knock of 70 not out off just 36 deliveries, his third half-century in the league, to guide his side to their fifth win in five matches. Tamim was supported by another hard-hitting batsman Aftab Ahmed who scored 24 runs off 16 deliveries.
It might have been a different story had Biman fielders held on to the chances that came their way to get rid of the two, early in their innings. Mohammedan started the run chase frantically, scoring 12 runs off the first over and 8 more off the second. Opener Shamsur Rahman got out early, as he went down the wicket trying to play to leg side a straight delivery from Tareq Aziz and was struck leg before wicket right in front. But that was the only occasion in the innings for Biman to smile and the start of a partnership that ripped apart the Biman attack.
Aftab was the first to show signs of aggression when he hit a six and followed with a boundary the next ball to take the score to 56 for one after six overs. Tamim soon joined the party and treated the crowd with an exhilarating display of strokeplay. He tore all the bowlers to pieces, going especially severe on the spinners. He scored 27 of a single over from left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain, including 3 huge sixes and two boundaries. Tamim’s relentless hitting turned Aftab into a mere spectator and the match was wrapped up inside ten overs.
Earlier, Mohammedan’s left-arm pace bowler Emon Ahmed’s impressive bowling put paid to Biman’s hope of putting up a big score. Emon’s swing and bounce undid the Biman batsmen, reducing them to 6 for 35 in six overs with figures of 3 for 13. Mohammedan’s spinners were equally effective, and never gave any opportunity to the Biman batters to stand any authority over the bowlers.
Gazi Tank also kept their hundred per cent record with a 27-run win over Old DOHS at Fatullah earlier in the day, thanks to an all-round display from youngster Sohrawardi Shuvo who scored 23 not out off just 16 balls to help his side post 122 for 5 in twenty overs and then took 4 for 13 and also effected a run out to restrict CCS for 95 for eight in twenty overs.
Biman’s loss meant they failed to grab a semifinal spot from Group A, which was taken by Khelaghar who had earlier won their match against BKSP at Fatullah by three runs. In a low scoring affair, BKSP made 122 for nice in 20 overs, chasing a victory target of 125. Delowar Hossain top-scored with 40 runs off 42 balls for Khelaghar. The other match in this group between Victoria and Partex was abandoned due to rain.
It was a three-way battle for the second seminal spot from Group B. Abahani, Surjo Torun, and Kalabagan, all of them started the day tied at 4 points each. Abahani made sure they did all in their power by rolling up a hapless Cricket Coaching School by seven wickets in a curtailed fourteen-over-a-side match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. Abahani bowlers kept CCS batters in check throughout their innings. Abahani openers Imrul Kayes (22) and Rony Talukder (24) made sure there were not many hiccups before they eventually overtook the paltry target of 72 in 12.5 overs.
Their progress into the last four was ensured when Kalabagan recorded a six-wicket win against Surjo Tarun in the last match of the day.
After restricting Tarun to 119, Kalabagan reached 121 for four with five balls to spare.

Courtesy of The Daily Star