Bangladesh: Orient smile in seventh outing (11 January 1999)

11 January 1999

Bangladesh: Orient smile in seventh outing

Our Sports Reporter

Holders Abahani Krira Chakra sha-ttered the dreams of big-spending Surjo Tarun when they posted an impressive 51 run win over their next-door Dhanmondi neighbours in a crucial Janakantha Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Surjo Tarun, who went on a spending spree in a bid to clinch their maiden league title, desperately needed a win in their seventh league engagement. But their chances to stay afloat in the title race were left in the lurch when their so-called star cricketers, chasing a fighting Abahani total of 286, perished for 235 in 75 overs.

As far as mathematical propositions are concerned, Tarun can still hope against hopes, but with three defeats against four wins their chance of a comeback looks rather bleak.

On other hand, with this win Abahani crossed a major hurdle in their chase for a hat trick of league titles. The popular Dhanmondi outfit with six wins against a single defeat now take the solo lead in the 12-team fray.

Surjo Tarun was the talk of the town when they roped in as many as six national players in a sensational inter-club cricketers' transfer this season. But the success for the mediocre-turned-aspirants never matched their expectations when bad selection procedure coupled with injudicious foreign recruits signed their doom. They possess a handful of individual talents, but they lack cohesion as a team.

Their indiscreet and wayward approach was once again evident in yesterday's match when Al-Shahriar, considered as a talented batsman, threw away his wicket at a stage when Surjo Tarun were strongly placed at 96 for one.

Surjo Tarun were off to a slow but steady start with openers Athar Ali Khan and Parvez putting on 94 runs in 35 overs. Athar was the first to go after scoring a patient 44 off 97 balls which included six fours.

But an itchy-feet Al-Shahriar, coming in to bat at number three, stayed at the wicket for only three minutes. The gangling right-hander was so focused on playing his shots instead of first settling that his BKSP-mate Naimur needed only four deliveries to dislodge the bail over the leg and middle-stump.

If Al-Shahriar is held responsible for digging his own grave, his captain Minhazul Abedin

was equally guilty. The experienced campaigner, on 23, made an ambitious attempt to go over the top of the packed on-side field but was caught by his Abahani counterpart Akram Khan at wide mid-on.

Opener Parvez scored his first league half-century this season. But he was more concerned about self promotion rather than the Tarun cause. He scored 55 off 169 balls in his painstaking 202-minute stay at the wicket, only to increase the run-rate at five per over.

Naveed Newaz, Surjo Tarun's latest foreign recruit, scored an unimpressive 41 off 71 balls. The Sri Lankan left-hander hammered two fours in his chancy innings.

It was all over for Surjo Tarun when their in-form all-rounder Enamul Haq and wicketkeeper Khaled Masood ran themselves out in quick succession after the tea break. In that session Tarun lost their last five wickets with the addition of only 29 runs.

Abahani with their limited bowling resources never appeared at the receiving end in defence of a defensible total. Besides, their ploy to field an additional spinner put paid when their tweaker-duo of Saidul Islam and Naimur Rahman evenly shared six wickets among them.

Saidul finished with three for 47 in his 16 overs. Off-spinner Naimur, after a disappointing spell in the last three matches, bowled a tight line and length to finish with fantastic figures of 14-2-29-3. The dapper all-rounder had earlier contributed an invaluable 44 runs.

Meanwhile, in the other match of the day at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, promotees Orient Sporting registered their first win after six defeats at the expense of Wari.

Orient, chasing Wari's 243 in the stipulated 80 overs, reached the victory mark -- 244 for seven -- with two balls to spare. The unlikely hero of Orient's triumph was former national right-arm seamer Mizanur Rahman, who scored an unbeaten 54 after the old towners were reduced to 144 for six.

Mizan put on 95 runs for the seventh wicket with Mazharul, who scored a priceless 41 off 96 balls.

It was learnt late last night that Victoria may field Manzoor Elahi in their match against Ajax after obtaining the Pakistani cricketer on mutual transfer from Kalabagan Krira Chakra.

The hard-hitting World Cupper, who played for Bagan in the last two seasons, arrived in the city yesterday.

Biman vs. Brothers (Banga-bandhu National Stadium)

Ajax vs. Victoria (Dhanm-ondi Cricket Stadium)

Result: Orient won by 3 wickets.

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