Mohammedan Sporting Club began their Dhaka Premier League campaign in style as they defeated Brothers Union by 78 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Half-centuries from Upal Tharanga, Mushfiqur Rahim and Nazmul Hossain Milon helped Mohammedan put a commendable 285-6 on the board and later dismissed Brothers for 207 runs in 49.5 overs to earn the morale-boosting win.
Bangladesh Under-19 wicket-keeper batsman Zakir Hasan made impressive debut in the DPL by making highest 61 runs for Brothers but it went in vain as his other team-mates failed to deliver.
Sent into bat, Mohammedan were struggling at 21-2 before skipper Mushfq and Tharanga resurrected their innings by putting 135 runs for the third wicket that helped them put a healthy total on the board.
Mushfiq batted brilliantly, producing some delightful stokes on his way to highest 72 runs from 80 balls while Tharanga scored 70 runs from 81 ball and both were looking set to get a deserving hundred.
Brothers got back into the game as both batsmen fell within a space of three deliveries, and immediately runs stopped flowing freely as slow bowlers kept them under check.
Mohammedan were looking good to score a massive total, but the double blow kept Brothers in the game until the moment man of the match Nazmul Hossain came in the middle to blaze with an explosive 70 runs.
Nazmul batted with ease after joining cautious Ariful Haque(41) in the middle and after his departure with the score on 229-6 in 46th over, he began to take the game away from the opponents.
His 41-ball innings had five boundaries and four sixes and helped his side score 56 runs from the last four overs.
Pace bowler Shuvashish Roy gave Mohammedan the perfect start when he trapped Imrul Kayes plumb in front in the third ball of the innings as the seasoned left-hander left the ball only to be surprised with the swing.
Wickets fell at regular interval as Brothers were reeling at 53-5 before Zakir and Iftekhar Sazzad (29) added 85 for the sixth wicket to avoid a bigger embarrassment.
Young left-hander Zakir never looked to have any kind of trouble against Mohammedan and showcased his talent on his 82-ball innings that featured three sixes and as many fours before calling his end with an unnecessary reverse sweep.
Shavahsish picked 3-28 while Enamul Haque and Habibur Rahman picked two wickets apiece for the victors.
Brief Scores
Mohammedan 285-6 in 50 overs (Mushfiq 72, Nazmul 70 not out, Tharanga 70; Asif 2-44) v Brothers 207 in 49.5 overs (Zakir Hasan 61; Subashis 3-29)
Result: Mohammedan won by 78 runs
Player of the match: Nazmul Hossain Milon (Mohammedan)
-With New Age input
