Bangladesh: Bagan escapes humility with Mahbub's knock (21 December 1998)

21 December 1998

Bangladesh: Bagan escapes humility with Mahbub's knock

Our Sports Reporter

Nasirul Alam hammered his maiden ton in domestic cricket as Mohammedan Sporting had half the job done in their bid to record three consecutive victories in the Janakantha Premier League when they piled up a huge 330 against Ajax at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Meanwhile Kalabagan, aided by an unbeaten century from Mahabubur Rahman, recovered from a terrible start to a fighting 246 against Agrani Bank at the BKSP in Saver.

Young right-handed batsman Nasir, who scored more than five hundred runs for Agrani Bank last season, put behind the disappointment of his first two matches for the popular Motijheel outfit when he scored a disciplined 111.

Coming in to bat at number four, Nasir played the sheet anchor role in guiding Mohammedan to the highest innings this season at the big bowl. Nasir clubbed five fours in his 201-ball stay at the wicket.

He put on 84 runs for the third wicket with Steve Tikolo after Mohammedan lost both their openers with only 23 runs on the board.

Tikolo, the master stroke-maker from Kenya, hammered his second consecutive half-century, 51 off only 61 deliveries. The stockily-built right-hander clubbed nine fours in his fluent knock. He was, however, undone by a delivery from spinner Raisul Islam that kept low, only to be adjudged leg before for the third successive occasion.

While Tikolo was among the runs, his compatriot Maurice Odumbe disappointed a handful of Mohammedan supporters as well as his just-arrived fiancee when he offered a bat-and-pad catch at forward short-leg after scoring only 12.

Nasir, who appeared more at ease playing on the on-side, added a vital 120 runs for the fifth wicket with Halim Shah after Odumbe departed, leaving Mohammedan in a precarious position at 148 for four.

Halim, who joined Mohammedan after the transfer date in an understanding with Surjo Tarun, scored a polished 53 off 109 balls embellished with a quartet of fours.

Nasir was eventually out in the 78th over, but not before Mohammedan reached the 300-mark. Captain Mohammed Rafique wielded his willow for a typically aggressive 43 off 36 balls inclusive of four boundaries and a massive sixer over long-on off spinner Raisul Islam.

For Ajax, right-arm seamer Aminul Islam returned with four for 64 in his 16 overs. He was ably supported by tweaker Raisul Islam who took two wickets for 73 runs. Although both proved expensive at the end of the day, Aminul and Raisul were the two quality bowlers in the otherwise toothless Ajax attack.

Aminul gave Mohammedan an early scare by removing both the openers in quick succession. He had Rashedul for 16 before claiming Selim Shahed, who scored a century in the previous match, cheaply.

Away at the BKSP, Mahabubur Rahman Selim came up with a timely unbeaten 105 to dig Kalabagan out of the mire to compile a fighting score. Still smarting from their stinging defeat at the hands of Wari, Kalabagan were destined for another debacle when they were reeling at 86 for five before Mahabub came up with the welcome century.

Considered as a fine player, the right-handed middle-order batsman from Mymensingh seemed to have rediscovered his touch after a turbulent time last season. He hammered eleven fours in his 190-ball unconquered innings.

For Agrani Bank, Shaheen Malik did most of the damage to Kalabagan with a four-wicket booty. The victims of the Pakistani spinner includes the prized wickets of his compatriots Sher Ali and Shahid Saeed.

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