Following a 63-run knock, Abahani captain Mosaddek Hossain turned hero with the ball, bagging four wickets to thwart arch-rival Mohammedan in the Super League fixture today. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Abahani Limited went top of the table following an exciting eight-run win against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting as skipper Mosaddek Hossain successfully defended 20 runs in the final over at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
Abahani’s Tanzim Hasan Shakib was on fire early with the ball, accounting for Soumya Sarkar and Kamindu Mendis while Mohammedan skipper Imrul Kayes fell for one to Nahidul Islam to leave his side struggling at 12 for 3 inside five overs. Nahidul bowled all of his 10 overs on the trot, giving away just 21 runs as Mohammedan looked nowhere close to getting a result until latter batters made a game out of it.
The game however turned through a 73-run stand between Mahidul Islam, carrying rich vein of form and Ariful Haque. After Ariful’s departure for 30 off 59, Mahmudullah Riyad and Ankon carried Mohammmedan’s hope with a 87-run stand. Needing 80 off last eight overs, the duo looked to accelerate. Ankon perished after a 113-ball 88 in the 42nd over before Riyad fell out castled by Mosaddek after a gritty 54.
Ariful Haque powered Mohammmad Saifuddin for two sixes to close the game in an 18-run over. Needing 45 runs off the last five, Afif’s effected a direct hit saw Ariful depart after a 14-ball 26. Shuvagata Hom kept hopes alive but Mosaddek, despite conceding a six off the first delivery of the 50th over, defended 20 runs to hand Abahani an eight-run win, picking up four for 51. Pacer Sakib bagged three.
Earlier, Abahani innings did not get to the best of starts, losing three wickets inside 11 overs. Anamul Haque Bijoy whipped a fine six of Nazmul Apu to signal he was carrying his fine form to the Super League stage but was brought down to earth as Apu got his revenge with a fine arm-delivery that skidded through and castled the right-handed Bijoy for 11.
Mushfik Hasan had impressed with his spell and got other man-in-form Mohammad Naim, who dragged one to his stumps to fall for a 20-ball 2. Mahmudul Hasan Joy then nicked one to gully off Khaled Ahmed to depart for 19 off 23 deliveries.
Abahani could count on young wicket-keeper batter Jaker Ali and Afif Hossain to resurrect the innings. Jaker and Afif strung together a fourth-wicket stand of 75 before the latter wanted to break the shackles created by a few dot deliveries but his heave saw him holed out at mid-wicket off Shuvagata Hom after a 40-ball 36.
Jaker got 63 during a 49-run stand with captain Mosaddek and the skipper went on to score 63 as well. New foreign recruit Khushdil Shah struck a 25-ball 29 and along with Mohammad Saifuddin’g 16 off 18 Abahanai managed 258 for 7. Mushfik remained the pick of the Mohammedan bowlers with two for 32 in 10 overs.
At Fatullah, Sheikh Jamal, who were leading the table before the game, were bowled out for a lowly 89 all out in the Super League game against Gazi Group. Only three batters reached double figures with Saif Hassan scoring a team-high 22 as Gazi Group’s pacer Jaynul Islam and spinner Tipu Sultan ran amok, picking up four and three wickets respectively. Gazi completed the chase inside 16 overs with Mehedi Maruf hitting 45 off 55.
Prime Bank won by a massive 173 runs at BKSP, Savar against Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s Legends of Rupganj with twin centuries from Shahadat Dipu and Zakir Hasan. The Prime Bank opening duo put on 222 runs with Dipu hitting 104 and 119 and Zakir scored a run-a-ball 106. Al Amin Junior’s stormy 27-ball 56 at number five as Prime Bank put on 330 for 6. Legends of Rupganj slumped to 157 all out with Chirag Jani scoring a run-a-ball 38.
In an exciting relegation league game, Agrani Bank usurped Dhaka Leopards by just one wicket, clinching the win in the final delivery of the over.
