Al-Sahariar threw out Kalabagan

National star opening batsman Al-Sahariar slammed a sparkling century against Kalabagan in GrameenPhone Premier League held in BNS today. With his success Victoria trounced Kalabagan by a fair margin of 66 runs in this one-sided affair and consolidated their position in the points table. Kalabagan, who later appeared as giant killers, faced their first defeat in Super Six competition.

Al-Sahariar, all through his strutting knock, handled 155 balls to run up his 124, which was featured with 7 fours and a six. He rolled up as the anchorman today and built up two important partnerships with Jahangir Alam and compatriot Rashed Hanif. Jahangir Alam quick fired 48 off 49 balls and Rashed Hanif made a good mark with 41 that came off just 36 deliveries.

Kalabagan bowlers found it difficult to put away Al-Sahariar, who was looking at his best today. He baffled all efforts from the opponent bowlers, never gave a solitary chance in his impeccable innings. He departed, leaving Victoria into a commanding position of 264 for 5. Captain Khaled Masud put in 29 not out off 18 balls at the dying stages of Victoria innings. The club ended up with a huge 282 for 7 at the end.

Kalabagan started off poorly, as they lost dependable opener Rafiqul Islam (0) and man-in-bad-form Rajin Saleh (7) pretty cheaply (Manjural Islam got them both). One-down Anisur Rahman (32) added some quick runs on the board when he slashed 4 boundaries in his brief stay in the crease.

Victoria skipper Khaled Masud sighed with relief when Rashed Hanif sent Ziaur Rahman back to the pavilion aided by his good effort behind the stump. Before that danger man Ziaur, who played the pivotal role in Kalabagan's two successive wins earlier, scored only 19. With his demise Kalabagan's chance fell away.

In fact Kalabagan gave up the will to fight back after Ziaur's fall, as Mushfiqur Rahman (27) and Nasirul Alam (55) managed to score runs at a very slow rate (Probably they preferred to hang on to the crease by any means). Manjarul Islam Rana, the left-arm off break bowler, notched up the second highest 33 off 40 deliveries before Kalabagan finished with 216 for 8 after over 50. Manjurul Islam and leggie Alok Kapali took 2 wickets each for Victoria.