Bangladesh: Victoria cave in to Abahani seam, Sharma shrugs off Wari (20 December 1998)

20 December 1998

Bangladesh: Victoria cave in to Abahani seam, Sharma shrugs off Wari

Our Sports Reporter

Holders Abahani Krira Chakra cruised to their third successive win while runners-up Brothers Union squeezed past Wari Club in the Janakantha Premier Cricket League played at different city venues yesterday.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, right-arm seamer Hasibul Hossain returned with his second successive four-wicket haul to guide Abahani to a 39-run win over Victoria Sporting Club.

Away at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, former Indian Test all-rounder Sanjeev Sharma slammed an unbeaten 76 to inspire Brothers Union to a sensational one-wicket victory over giant-slayers Wari Club. The Delhi-based cricketer played the role of a saviour as Brothers Union, resuming the day at 50 for six in 17 overs, reached the victory target in 76.3 overs.

Hot on the heels of their squeaky passage against Victoria, whom the Gopibagh outfit defeated by two runs, Brothers were in deep trouble, needing 148 runs in 63 overs.

Sharma, who came to bat at number nine with Brothers Union struggling to avoid their first league defeat on 78 for eight in only 28 overs, shared a valuable 64-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Shahnewaz Kabir. The pair was broken at 152 in the 56th over when Shahnewaz was out on 26 caught by Pakistani Tareque Mahmood off a Nasim Ahmed delivery.

In his 100-minute vigil at the crease, Shahnewaz faced 83 balls for his patient 26, which included three fours.

After Shahnewaz's departure, Sharma, a regular customer in the Dhaka league, shared another undefeated 48-run partnership in the last wicket stand with Shafiuddin to take the Gopibagh outfit safely home from what could have been a miserable defeat.

Sharma, who stayed at the crease for more than three hours, faced 154 balls, which saw nine sweetly-timed hits across the rope.

His last-wicket partner Shafiuddin Ahmed was not out on 10 when Brothers finally won the match in the 68th over.

For Wari, who defeated Kalabagan Krira Chakra by 58 runs in their previous match, it was a disappointing day after a brilliant start on Friday.

There was more disappointment for Wari's Pakistani left-arm spinner Amir Wasim, who gave his side big hopes of a win by taking four wickets on the first day to restrict Brothers Union to 50 for six in 17 overs. Although he finished with a five-wicket haul, giving away only 29 runs in 16 overs, his efforts came to naught as Wari lost the match in the end.

For Abahani, it was rather an easier task against Victoria. Defending a fighting total of 289 in 80 overs, two seamers Hasibul and Niamur Rashid shared seven wickets to shoot out their lowly-rated counterparts for 250 in 76.3 overs.

After Hasibul gave Abahani an early breakthrough, removing opener and captain Mustadir Litu in the fifth over, it was Niamur Rashid, who came out with his explosive seam to take three wickets in the space of eight overs to see Victoria reeling at 51 for four.

Hasibul than ripped through the tail to finish with four for 61 from 14.3 overs. But credit must not be taken away from Niamur who bowled ten overs including five maidens and conceded only 18 runs for his three victims.

Apart from the pacers, off-spinner Saidul Islam took two wickets for 26 runs from his 16 tight overs.

For Victoria, number six Imran Ahmed topscored with 61 while lower middle-orders Sabbir Khan and Ayaz Jilani chipped in with 46 and 39 respectively.

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