Shamsur Rahman’s emphatic century went in vain as his side Gazi Group lost to Abahani Limited by 32 runs in their Dhaka Premier League match at the BKSP on Wednesday.
Abahani were looking for the first win in four matches after putting 276-6 in 50 overs on the back of an unbeaten 90 runs from Indian recruit Rajat Bhatia before rain halted the play on Tuesday.
They were right on the money on the reserved day as Taskin Ahmed, who has been going through a recovery process after ICC imposed international ban on him for illegal action, produced one of his finest performances to leave Gazi stuttering at 25-4.
Shamsur defied valiantly scoring 136 runs but it was not to bail out the side from initial collapse as Gazi were finally dismissed for 244 runs in 48.1 overs to concede the defeat.
Taskin trapped Shamsur leg before to finish with 4-32, his best bowling figure so far in the league.
Taskin gave Abahani the perfect start as he dismissed Anamul Haque in the very first ball of the innings.
The catch was taken by his new-ball partner Shahadat Hossain, who played his first competitive game after Bangladesh Cricket Board lifted a ban on him for abusing a child he employed as maid.
It could not have been a poorer start for Gazi, who lost another wicket in the next bal as Taskin picked up one-down Mehedi Hasan before Pakistani Saeed Anwar Jnr denied him the hat-trick.
Anwar was soon dismissed for one off the bowling of Shahadat and Taskin got rid of Farhad Hossain for a duck to put the result beyond doubt.
But Shamsur, the lone ranger for Gazi, kept on his battle but did not get enough support from the other side.
The right handed batsman gave Gazi an unlikely hope with the highest innings of the league so far before Taskin got him out with the side still needing 63 runs.
Shamsur hit 13 boundaries and three sixes in his 130-ball innings and only Faruk Hossain, who made 29 runs, could give him some support while making a 75-run seventh wicket partnership.
Shamsur, whose previous highest score in the league was 95 not out, when his last ball six was cancelled against Kalabagan Cricket Academy as the no ball was enough to give them the victory, surpassed Shahriar Nafees.
Brothers’ Union skipper Shahriar made 134, the previous highest in the league, against Cricket Coaching School.
Gazi’s number 11 batsman Mohammad Sharif tried his luck with few shots but his 25-run innings could just reduce the margin of defeat.
Brief Scores
Abahani 276-6 in 50 overs (Bhatia 90 not out, Tamim 55, Mosaddek 47, Liton 37; Mehedi 2-32) v Gazi Group 244 in 48. 1 overs (Shamsur Rahman 136;
Taskin 4-32, Abul 2-38, Bhatia 2-46)
Result: Abahani Limited won by 32 runs.
Man of the match: Taskin Ahmed (Abahani limited)
-With New Age input
