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Mohammedan upset Victoria; Gazi Tank shock Old DOHS in Premier Cricket
In the day’s other match, Gazi Tank Cricketers entered the title race shocking league leader Old DOHS SC beating them by 20 runs in another key league match at the Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Narayanganj.
Holders Abahani Limited went down to the bottom in the six-team super league losing to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by a huge margin of 127 runs in the day’s other fixture at the BKSP ground in Savar.
After the day’s matches, the league is poised for an exciting finish as three teams -- Old DOHS SC (22 points), Victoria SC (20 points) and Gazi Tank Cricketers (20 points) -- will battle for the league crown in Friday’s last league matches.
In the last super league match on Friday (June 8), two title-contenders Old DOHS SC and Victoria SC will lock horns at the Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah while another title contender Gazi Tank Cricketers will face Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at BKSP ground in Savar.
Two arch-rivals Mohammedan SC and Abahani Ltd, which already quit from the title race, will meet each other at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra in the last league match on Friday.
In the match today, sent into bat first in Bogra, Dhaka Mohammedan SC scored a moderate 213 for 8 in stipulated 50 overs with tail-ender Nur Hossain hammering team highest not out 49 off 30 balls that featured five fours and three sixes.
Mohammedan made a good start scoring 71 runs in the opening stand in 16.5 overs with national colour opener Imrul Kayes making 64-ball 45 runs with six fours and a six while another opener Rasel Al Mamun scored 40-ball 22 runs with three fours.
Besides, lower order Chathura Peiris (29), all rounder Naeem Islam (28) and Habibur Rahman (17) were the other notable scorers for Mohammedan.
Victoria skipper cum world number one all rounder Shakib Al Hasan grabbed three wickets for 48 runs in nine overs while Sharifullah took two wickets for 34 runs in his 10 over spell.
In reply, title aspirant Victoria SC were dismissed for 147 runs in 41.3 overs with lower order Sharifullah scoring team highest 40 runs off 65 balls that included three boundaries.
One down Soumya Sarker scored 32 runs off 43 balls with four fours, spinner Mosharraf Hossain made 18 off 46 balls with one four, Shakib Al Hasan scored 8-ball 16 runs, Jahurul Islam added 16 runs off 31 balls while national opener Tamim Iqbal returned to the dressing room with duck playing four balls.
Chathura Peiris was the most successful among the Mohammedan bowlers claiming four wickets for 33 runs in 8.3 overs while Amit Kumar and Syed Rasel took two wickets each for 21 and 26 runs respectively.
In Fatullah, Gazi Tank Cricketers batted first after winning the toss and posted a moderate 259 for 6 in quota 50 overs with national batsman Nasir Hossain hammering a century making 101 runs off 108 balls that included seven fours.
After the departure of two openers -- Yasir Hamid (20) and Mithun (0) -- for 34 runs in 10.1 overs, Nasir Hossain pairing with Aolk Kapali contributed 152 runs in the 3rd wicket stand.
Apart from Nasir Hossain century, national colour Alok Kapali contributed 112-ball 76 runs with three sixes while lower order Nazmul Milan scored not out 37 runs off 29 balls with two fours and two sixes.
Nabil Samad captured two wickets for 36 runs.
At BKSP in Savar, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club batted first after winning the toss and scored 251 for all in 49.3 overs.
After the dismissal of first three wickets –- Myshukur Rahman (14), Shamsur Rahman (20) and Mehrab Hossain Jr (0) –- for 35 runs in 10.3 overs, national skipper Mushfiqur Rahim pairing with Mahmudul Hasan added 155 runs in the 4th wicket partnership.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored unbeaten 92 runs in the last match, today hammered 90 runs off 94 balls with six fours and two sixes while Mahmudul Hasan scored 70 runs off 86 balls with seven fours and a six.
Abul Hasan grabbed four wickets for 46 runs while Forhad Reza claimed three wickets for 38 runs.
In reply, Abahani Limited were dismissed for 124 runs in 37.4 overs with Farhad Hossain making 26 and Forhad Reza 20 runs.
Rubayat Haq picked up three wickets for 22 runs while pacer Taposh Baishya and Mahmudul Hasan took two wickets each for 11 and 23 runs respectively.
After the 4th round of super league and the overall 14th round of the league, Old DOHS SC dominates the league table securing 22 points while Gazi Tank Cricketers and Victoria SC closely follow the leader with both on 20 points.
Points Table (tabulated under match played, win, loss, tie, points and net run-rate):
Team M W L T Pts NRR
Old DOHS SC 14 11 3 0 22 0.910
Gazi Tank 14 10 4 0 20 0.418
Victoria SC 14 10 4 0 20 0.357
Sk. Jamal DC 14 8 6 0 16 0.225
Mohammedan SC 14 7 7 0 14 0.111
Abahani Ltd 14 6 8 0 12 -0.046