Bangladesh: Ajax taste maiden victory (9 January 1999)

9 January 1999

Bangladesh: Ajax taste maiden victory

Our Sports Reporter

Mahabubur Rahman could not think of a better way to rediscovering his richest vein of talents when he scored a majestic half-century to erase the enviable five-match unbeaten tag of Biman in the Janakantha Premier League yesterday.

The elegant right-hander came up with a timely 63 as Kalabagan, chasing a fighting Biman total of 275 in the stipulated 80 overs, reached the victory 276 for seven with eleven overs to spare.

Mahbub's sizzling knock kept Kalabagan afloat in the title race.

The victory for the new leviathans, which left the topsy-turvy league wide open, also brought a smile in everyone's face except for the national airline outfit, who tasted their first defeat after five wins on a trot. Biman are now on equal terms with holders Abahani and runners-up Brothers, all having a defeat against five wins on completion of six league matches.

On the other Kalabagan jointly shared the second position with Surjo Tarun and Mohammedan, each enjoying four wins and two defeats.

Biman, who did not even concede 200-run against any team in their last five match, had a disappointing first session but wrested the initiative after lunch when they captured three wickets for 12 runs, reducing Kalabagan to 181 for six.

But the face of the game changed when Mahabub led a spectacular recovery operation in company with a wily Abul Hasan.

Together they put on 83 runs for the seventh wicket to decisively knock the wind from out of the Biman sails. It was a treat to watch the way the pair mixed caution with aggression to guide Kalabagan to safety.

While Mahabub was full in cry, Hasan opted to played the perfect foil, rotating the strike with great authority.

A talented player Mahabub clubbed eight fours in his flawless 94-ball knock that included a couple of trademark pull shots off the back-foot. He reached his 50 with a cracking cover drive off seamer Talha. Mahabub was eventually out in the 68th over, leaving Kalabagan 12 runs short of the target. He offered a stunning return catch to Aminul, who grabbed the ball at the second attempt.

Hasan, a matured head on a young shoulder, then sealed the fate of the match in the next over executing two boundaries, including a paddle sweep, against Biman's Pakistan leg-spinner Manzoor Akhter. The dapper right-hander remained unbeaten on 22.

Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahman laid the Kalabagan foundation with an enterprising 61 off 91 balls. Promoted up in the batting order, the young right-handed batsman more than justified the elevation from number seven to three, keeping the rocking boat steady after Kalabagan lost both their openers at 39.

He featured in two vital stands including an absorbing 91 runs for the fourth wicket with Shahid Saeed. Mushfiq hammered eight fours in his fluent knock. While Pakistani Saeed chipped in with 40 off 62 balls, which included half a dozen fours.

Meanwhile, in the other matches of the day, Ajax posted their first win at the expense of Sadharan Bima while Victoria brought Agrani Bank down to earth after three consecutive victories.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, one-down Rezaul Hasan scored an unbeaten 50 as Victoria, chasing a fighting Agrani Bank total of 221, rattled up the required 222 for the loss of five wickets in 70.4 overs.

Rezaul hammered five fours in his 122-ball vigil at the crease. It was Victoria's second win from six outings.

Away at the BKSP in Savar, relegation-threatened Ajax ended their five-match drought when they defeated promotees Sadharan Bima by five wickets.

Ajax, who had earlier shot Bima out for a paltry 178 on Thursday, went on to score 180 for five in only 48.2 overs with their Pakistan recruit Selim Mughal notching a fine 60 off 83 balls.

Ajax SC won by five wickets.

Janakantha Premier Division Cricket League:

Abahani v Surjo Tarun(Venue: Bangabandhu National Stadium)
Wari Club v Orient SC(Venue: Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium)

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)