Bangladesh: Biman close in on title (4 February 1999)

4 February 1999

Bangladesh: Biman close in on title

Our Sports Reporter

When Bangladesh Biman, aided by a century from opener Javed Omar, appeared well on course to lift the coveted Janakantha Premier League title, no-hopers Mohammedan Sporting Club were struggling to save their blushes against babes Sadharan Bima in one of the three matches held at different city venues yesterday.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Javed scored a brilliant 111 to help Biman amass 373 for eight in the stipulated 80 overs against Victoria.

The diminutive national opener hammered his first ton of the season with the help of 10 boundaries as Biman, sent into bat, reached an unassailable position in their bid for a fifth title.

The national airline outfit, who are enjoying much superior run-rate (neat) than their nearest challengers - holders Abahani and last year's runners-up Brothers, must have heaved a sigh of relief after demonstrating yet another solid performance from their top-order.

With Javed returning among the runs after a struggling season, his partner Habibul Basher scored 44 in a 105-run first wicket stand to lay the foundation of a huge Biman total.

One-down Faruque Ahmed scored a captain's knock of 61 off 118 balls embellished with five fours and a huge sixer. He shared 125 runs for the second wicket with Javed before being bowled by left-arm spinner Mustadir.

Although national captain Aminul returned for a first ball duck, caught at point off Mustadir, Biman's run-machine Manzoor Akhter kept on going with an amazing consistency. The Pakistani right-hander celebrated his back-to-back century with a fluent 55 off 45 balls before being outfoxed by his compatriot Rashed Hanif, who drew the former Pakistan Test cap out of the crease with an intriguing loop in the air.

While Biman had had a happy harvesting at Dhanmondi, runs were hard to come by at the Bangabandhu National Stadium where an injury-plagued Mohammedan were bundled out for only 204 in 73.4 overs.

The popular Motijheel outfit, thrown out of the title race after conceding a nerve-tingling 11-run defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Abahani in the previous match, were at the Catch 22 against the promotees. Mohammedan took the field without their two Kenyan recruits -- Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe, who left the city on Monday at the expiry of their contract. Besides they also missed the services of hard-hitting opener Imran Hamid, who is nursing a twisted ankle.

But an under-strength Mohammedan, who caved in before the tea-break, seemed to have retrieved after the batting slump, as they reduced Bima to 2/27 in 12.3 overs when stumps were drawn for the first day.

Although the top-order made a healthy contribution to the total, but Mohammedan, for an umpteenth time, haplessly watched their fickle tail perishing quickly, nibbling at deliveries better to be left alone.

Young opener Reshedul Haq made 57 off 87 balls. Skipper Rafique, who opened the innings with Rashed, chipped in with 25. Selim Shaed, batting at number three, scored a patient 44 off 105 balls. Halim Shah, promoted up in the batting order, made 24 and Nasirul, the last recognised Mohammedan batsmen fell for 11.

But the score of the tail-enders was a six-digit telephone number which read 4-0-1-7-5-6. And the man, responsible for the collapse, was veteran left-arm spinner Abdul Hadi. Called in the national camp to assist Gordon, Hadi perhaps ended his last appearance as a coach-cum player with excellent figures of 13.4-7-14-4.

Away at the BKSP in Savar, Agrani Bank piled up a commanding total of 301 for eight against a relegation-threatened Ajax.

The Agrani total was built around a dazzling 91 from their Pakistani recruit Shahin Malik and a polished 45 from opener Sajjad Kadir.

Shahin clubbed eight fours and a six in his 123-ball knock before being adjudged leg before off the bowling of seamer Aminul Islam at nervous nineties.

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