Bangladesh: Wasim baffles Brothers, Azam hits a hundred (19 December 1998)

19 December 1998

Bangladesh: Wasim baffles Brothers, Azam hits a hundred

The Daily Star

A last-ball-century by Azam Khan helped holders Abahani to collect a respectable 289 for nine against Victoria SC in the Janakantha Premier Division cricket league at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, reports UNB.

Pakistani-recruit Azam Khan scored 100 facing 143 balls in his three-hour steady but calculated innings, which included seven boundaries and a superb six from Sabbir Khan.

Azam Khan, the Pakistani Customs and national player, needed five runs from the last two balls of the 80-over innings. He hit across the rope with a magnificent flick off the first ball and took one run from the last delivery.

Earlier, sent in to bat first Abahani lost openers Azam Iqbal (1) and Mehrab Hossain Opee (7). But Azam Khan and Naimur Rahman Durjoy contributed a valuable 93-run partnership, which helped the holders reach a fighting total.

National all-rounder Durjoy made the second highest 47 off 103 balls with six boundaries. Number four Nuruzzaman Tuhin added 37 runs facing 68 balls, including two boundaries.

Abahani scored 105 runs losing two wickets before lunch in 31 overs and added 92 before losing captain Akram Khan (6) and Durjoy at tea.

Rahul scored 27 runs off 61 balls with three boundaries while Hasibul Hossain Shanta added 15 runs off 18 balls, including two sixes against Mona.

Pacer Al Amin was the most successful bowler for the Victoria, who captured 4-59 in his 16-over spell.

Skipper Mustadir Litu and JH Mona took two wickets each for 65 and 52 runs respectively. Sabbir Khan claimed another wicket for 15 runs in 4 overs.

APB adds: Pakistani off-spinner Amir Wasim put Brothers Union batting in a tail-spin with a four-wicket haul as the Gopibagh outfit were reeling at 50 for 6 in reply to Wari's 197 on the first day.

The left-arm off-spinner ripped through Brothers inning capturing four for only 12 runs in 9 overs with the Gopibagh team fighting a grim battle to save the match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Brothers, the current runners-up, will require another 147 runs in the remaining 63 overs in an 80-over-a-side affair when they will resume their innings today with Aamir Hanif and Hasanullah Hassan at the crease.

Wasim, who missed a hattrick yesterday triggered the Brothers slide dismissing national opener Shahriar Hossain Biddyut and middle-order batsman Sanwar to reduce the side to 40 for 3 wickets after tea-break.

Biddyut made 18 in 43 balls before sending a return catch to Wasim while Sanwar was caught by Zahid for a duck.

Wari, who pulled off the first major upset of the league beating Kalabagan KC by 58 runs, were all out for 197 in 61.2 overs.

Opener Mushtaq Munna contributed the highest 31 in 36 balls including four fours while his partner Anup Kumar made 25 with four boundaries.

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