Cricket Coaching School (CCS) stunned Bangladesh Biman by nine runs in a low-scoring thriller, although the big guns had easier outings during yesterday’s Premier League games across the city.
Defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club beat Old DOHS by 66 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with their English import Moeen Ali hitting his first ton, while table toppers Abahani won by almost a similar margin, 67 runs, against Victoria Sporting Club.
CCS-BIMAN
The game at the poorly maintained Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium solely belonged to the guiles of the left-arm spinners as 14 wickets fell to the type.
After Biman’s Elias Sunny and Mosharraf Hossain took four wickets each to dismantle CCS for just 120 runs in 31.3 overs, Bishwanath Halder stung Biman’s top-order with three quick wickets after he was brought on in the third over.
Biman never recovered and though they closed in on the small 121-run target, Bishwanath returned to remove the dangerous Tushar Imran and Dollar Mahmud to finish with figures of 5-20 from nine overs.
CCS paceman Waqas Ahmed ended the game by taking the return catch to dismiss Bathaiya Perera for 22, ending Biman’s innings at 111 runs in 37.1 overs.
The match also saw Mohammad Ashraful’s form taking a dip as the World Cup hopeful fell for just two, playing a poor shot off Sunny in the 15th over.
MSC-OLD DOHS
Moeen Ali survived a dropped catch by Old DOHS captain Mehrab Hossain when he was on 99, but the elegant left-hander still managed to reach his first century of the campaign.
The Worcestershire player made 113 off 116 balls with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes as Mohammedan latched on his and Shakib’s quickfire 59 to reach 279-8 from 50 overs, though the Motijheel outfit would have liked if their Pakistani star Mohammad Yousuf had made more than 12 off 18 balls.
Aftab Ahmed, though, gave Old DOHS a fine reply with his 73-ball 67 but his was a lone hand as Mukhtar Ali and Noor Hossain thwarted the rest.
Paceman Mukhtar took four wickets while leg-spinner Noor picked up three to help bowl out Old DOHS for 213 runs from 43.3 overs.
ABAHANI-VICTORIA
Abahani made a clumsy start through two run outs and were reduced to four for 70 after electing to bat first in a game that started 45 minutes late due to heavy fog at the BKSP in Savar.
But skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and Marshall Ayub rebuilt the Dhanmondi giants’ innings through an 80-run fifth wicket stand. Riyad played a good hand, making 88 off 96 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes as Abahani reached a competitive 218-9 from 50 overs.
Victoria went ahead through a 67-run opening stand between Myshukur Rahman and Fazle Rabbi but once Riyad had Rabbi’s wicket in the 17th over, Abahani waded in.
Rafique took three wickets while Riyad and Saqlain Sajib picked up two each as Victoria were bowled out for 151 runs in 38.2 overs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
CCS: 120 all out in 31.3 overs (Shahbaz 28; Elias 4-14, Mosharraf 4-30).
BIMAN:111 all out in 37.1 overs (Jahurul 27; Bishwa-nath 5-20, Waqas 2-14).
Result: CCS won by nine runs.
MSC: 279-8 in 50 overs (Moeen 113, Shakib 59; Shafiul 3-54, Forhad 3-59).
OLD DOHS: 213 all out in 43.3 overs (Aftab 67, Nurul 41; Mukhtar 4-40, Noor 3-45).
Result: MSC won by 66 runs.
ABAHANI: 218-9 in 46 overs (Riyad 88, Marshall 24; Arsalan 2-16).
VICTORIA: 151 all out in 38.2 overs (Myshukur 46, Rabbi 39; Rafique 3-33, Riyad 2-23).
Result: Abahani won by 67 runs.
