Abahani Limited’s hopes of qualifying for the Super League received a serious blow when they suffered their third successive loss to lowly Kalabagan Cricket Academy on Monday.
Mahmudul Hasan struck a fine century to help the Academy side post their maiden win in seven matches by three wickets in a high-scoring contest at the Fatullah stadium.KCA rode on Hasan’s 106 off 111 balls to reach 286-7 in 46.5 overs after restricting Abahani to 282-7 when the former Under-19 skipper also played his part by grabbing 3-52.
Needing a win desperately after defeat in previous two matches respectively at the hands of Legends of Rupganj and Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani captain Tamim Iqbal won the toss and elected to bat first.
Tamim set the foundation putting 88 runs in the opening stand with Avishek Mitra before he was dismissed for 48 having faced 52 balls.
Tamim, who struck three fours and two sixes, was quickly followed by out-of-form Liton Das (eight), but his fellow opener Avishek went on to score 63 runs, which eventually turned out to be the highest score in Abahani innings.
Manoj Tiwary (40), Nazmul Hossain Shanto (37) and Mosaddek Hossain (42) played three other cameos to take Abahani to a respectable position, though none of them could provide the necessary spark that would have been vital for the struggling giants.
KCA’s Indian recruit Jatin S Saxena chipped in with 2-63.
The Academy side lost both the openers for 48 runs but Saxena, who made 43 off 41 balls, did not allow the momentum to swing into Abahani’s way putting 77 runs with Hasan for the third wicket.
Abahani might have thought they have the match in their bag when Jubair Hossain trapped Saxena leg before, but Mahmudul, one of the few consistent players for the last two seasons, had different ideas.
The all-rounder, who hit eight fours and three sixes, anchored the innings to take KCA to a position from where it was difficult for them to lose. Another promising young player Taposh Ghosh hit 47 off 44 balls to give his skipper enough support.
By the time Salain Sajib dismissed Mahmudul, KCA needed 16 runs with more than five overs in hand. Bishawnath Halder struck Saqlain for two sixes off successive balls to inflict fourth defeat on Abahani in the league.
Abahani had four leg-before decisions in their favour in the match conducted by Jahangir Alam and Miaznur Rahman, who were appointed in a league match first time in this season.
It, however, could not create any impact on the result as KCA won comfortably with 19 balls in hand.
Brief Scores
Abahani Limited 282-7 in 50 overs (Avishek 63, Tamim 48, Mosaddek 42, Tiwary 40, Shanto 37; Mahmudul 3-52, Jatin 2-63) v Kalabagan CA 286-7 in 46.5 overs (Mahmudul 106, Taposh 47, Irfan Sukkur 30; Abul 3-47)
Result: Kalabagan CA won by 3 wickets.
Man of the match: Mahmudul Hasan (Kalabagan CA)
-With New Age input
