Mohammedan Sporting Club cruised to an easy victory over Prime Bank after arch-rivals Abahani Limited lost a nail-biter to the UCB BCB XI in the first match of the Victory Day T20 Cup at Sylhet on Sunday. Opener Jahirul Islam stuck an unbeaten half-century to guide Mohammedan Sporting Club to a comfortable five-wicket win. Jahirul scored 65 runs from 52 deliveries and batted till the end as Mohammedan reached 130-5 in 19 overs after restricting Prime Bank to a modest 126-7.
Mohammedan had a mini collapse when two quick wickets fell to leave them at 80-5 and give Prime the upper hand, but Jahirul and Sharifullah (22 not out) resurrected the innings by putting on 50 runs in their unbeaten sixth-wicket stand.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Elias Sunny grabbed 3-26 and was ably supported by the disciplined bowling of the slow bowlers as Mohammedan restricted Prime Bank to 127-7 in 20 overs.
National opener Anamul Haque and Saikat Ali (25) put on 57 runs in 6.3 overs to provide Prime Bank with a good start.
Saikat, who was dropped on 18, could not prolong his good fortune as Elias removed him to break the opening partnership.
Anamul was the top scorer for his team with 35 runs, striking two fours and as many sixes, but just as he was looked set to launch an assault he paid the price for trying to be too adventurous against part-time spinner Mominul Haque.
Prime Bank lost wickets at regular intervals, allowing the bowlers to grow in confidence.
Pace bowler Alauddin Babu came back superbly after being hit for 15 runs in his opening over, finishing with figures of 2-24.
Off-spinner Sharifullah cleverly mixed his deliveries, making it hard for the tail-enders to pick his variations as he took 1-14 from his three overs.
Alok Kapali captained Prime Bank, who had to play the opening game without their star performer and skipper Sakib al Hasan. Sakib had gone to India for a personal reason.
Sakib is expected to join the team for today’s match against the UCB-BCB XI at 4:30pm, which follows the Abahani-Mohammedan match at 12:30pm.
Abahani v UCB BCB XI
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mithun Ali carried his good form from the T20 Challenge Series over to the Victory-Day T20 Cup, scoring an unbeaten 67 to steer the UCB-BCB XI to a thrilling
six-wicket win over Abahani Limited in the opening match.
Mithun’s 44-ball innings was the highlight as the UCB-BCB XI reached 140-4 off the last ball of the match after four wickets from medium pacer Delwar Hossain helped them restrict Abahani to 139-8 in the first innings.
The opening match of the newly-launched tournament was delayed by 45 minutes due to the late arrival of the team jerseys, which tested the patience of hundreds of fans who had paid for tickets to watch the national players in action.
However, Mithun eventually gave them their money’s worth, entertaining them with five fours and four sixes. His last six came off the first ball of the final over, with the UCB requiring 11 runs to win.
With five required off the last five balls, UCB were firm favourites, but bowler Farhad Reza ensured that the game remained tense, conceding just four runs off the next four deliveries to take the game to the last ball.
Needing just one run off the last ball, Mithun failed to connect with the ball. Abahani skipper Mushifiqur Rahim collected the ball and tried to dislodge the bails, but the ball missed the stumps and Mithun and Naeem Islam completed a bye to give UCB victory.
Man of the match Mithun had earlier shared an 89-run partnership with his skipper Tamim Iqbal (43 off 46) to keep the contest alive for his side.
Chasing a modest target, UCB lost two wickets for 15 runs before Mithun and Tamim steadied the innings.
Tamim won the first toss of the tournament and opted to bowl, and Delwar vindicated the decision. Delwar took four wickets on the trot and finished with figures of 4-18 after Al Amin dismissed Soumya Sarkar in the second over, leaving Abahani struggling at 59-5.
Sohrawardi Shuvo made 31 runs and Farhad Reza added an unbeaten 17 off 10 balls late in the innings to give Abahani a respectable total.
BRIEF SCORES
Abahani Limited v UCB BCB XI
Abahani Limited 139-8 in 20 overs (Aftab 33, Sohrawardi 31, Ziaur 20; Delwar 4-18) v UCB BCB XI 140-4 in 20 overs (Mithun 67 not out, Tamim 43; Shuvashis 2-24).
Result: UCB BCB XI won by 6 wickets.
Man of the match: Mithun Ali (UCB BCB XI).
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Prime Bank CC v Mohammedan SC
Prime Bank 126-4 in 20 overs (Anamul 35, Saykat 25, Mehrab Jr 24 not out; Elias Sunny 3-26) v Mohammedan SC 130-5 in 19 overs (Johurul 65 not out, Sharifullah 22 not out; Taijul 2-23).
Result: Mohammedan SDC won by 5 wickets.
Man of the match: Johurul (MSC)
-With New Age input
