Popular outfits Abahani and Mohammedan braved the chilly weather to win their respective ninth round matches of the Premier Cricket League at different venues yesterday.
The foggy weather enforced curtailed-overs affairs in all three matches and it was Shamsur Rahman who hogged the spotlight on the day by hitting a hundred to guide Mohammedan to a 33-run victory over Kalabagan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
National opener Imrul Kayes also shone hitting a stroke-filled hall-century at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium as Abahani overcame the Biman hurdle with a narrow six-run win while Victoria registered their fourth victory with a 71-run success against Prime Doleshwar at BKSP.
With the outcome Abahani retained the top position with 16 points while defending champions Mohammedan followed them one point behind. Biman put their Super League qualification at risk as they remained on ten points.
MOHAMMEDAN- KALABAGAN
In a 35-overs-a-side match, Shamsur took the charge after his team had lost three quick wickets. And the right-hander got good support from Shakib Al Hasan (32 off 29 balls) and Faisal Hossain (52 off 44 balls) as Mohammedan piled up a daunting 259 runs for six wickets.
Shamsur smote nine boundaries and four sixes during his 86-ball 100 and justifiably pointed his bat towards the selectors’ room as he failed to make the 23-member World Cup squad.
Later the batsman also expressed his frustration at the omission.
In reply, Nazmus Sadat and Nasiruddin gave Kalabagan a flying start, but they lost wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for 226 runs in 33.5 overs. As many as seven batsmen reached double digits but none could carry on.
Left-arm spinner Shakib was the peak of the bowlers taking four wickets for 32 runs while Azhar Mahmud and Nur Hossain captured three wickets each.
ABAHANI-BIMAN
Chasing a 204-run winning target, Pakistani Jeesan Asif threatened Abahani but veteran left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique made sure no upset took place.
The right-hander smashed four boundaries and as many sixes during his explosive 50-ball 72 but it was not good enough for Biman who finished their 33-over quota at 197 for nine.
Tapash Baishya, Abul Hasan, Saqlain Sajib and Rafique picked up two wickets each.
Earlier Imrul and Anamul Haque made a good start for Abahani after being put in to bat in trying conditions as the pair added 49 runs in 8.5 overs for the opening stand.
Imrul had struggled initially in the competition but got back his rhythm at the right time. The left-hander clobbered six boundaries and two over boundaries during his 79-ball 78 while Anamul contributed 21 off 25 balls that featured three fours.
Marshal Ayub was the other notable scorer with 31.
Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain grabbed three wickets conceding 47 runs.
VICTORIA-DOLESHWAR
In the 25-overs-a-side match due to delayed start following dense fog in the morning, Victoria posted 166 for six.
Mominul Haque top scored 48 off 37 balls that contained three boundaries.
In reply, Doleshwar were bowled out for 95 runs in 22 overs.
It was the eighth defeat for the promotees.
SCORES IN BRIEF
MOHAMMEDAN: 259-6 in 35 overs (Nazimuddin 23, Shamsur 100, Shakib 32, Faisal 52, extras 19; Shahadat 2-45, Hasan 2-32)
KALABAGAN: 226 all out in 33.5 overs (Sadat 20, Nasiruddin 25, Ariful 37, Ijaz 24, Wajid 24, Sharif 37, Hasan 21, extras 23; Mahmud 3-46, Shakib 4-32, Nur 3-40)
Result: Mohammedan won by 33 runs.
ABAHANI: 203-7 in 33 overs (Imrul 78, Anamul 21, Marshal 31, Farhad 24 not out, Rafique 20, extras 9; Mosharraf 3-47, Sharifullah 2-32, Sunny 2-30)
BIMAN: 197-9 in 33 overs (Yasir 25, Jahirul 22, Mushfiqur 33, Jeesan 72, extras 3; Tapash 2-36, Hasan 2-46, Saqlain 2-43, Rafique 2-31)
Result: Abahani won by six runs.
VICTORIA: 166-6 in 25 overs (Myshukur 20, Fahadul 32, Mominul 48, extras 11; Abbas 2-31, Nazmul 2-38)
DOLESHWAR: 95 all out in 22 overs (Sumon 23, extras 9; Meer 2-15, Monir 2-15, Mominul 2-10, Tarik 2-24)
Result: Victoria won by 71 runs.
