National skipper Aminul Islam missed his first century of the season yesterday but his 94 propelled title aspirants Biman to a fighting total against emerging force Surjo Tarun Club on the first day of the two-day match of the Janakantha Premier Division Cricket League played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Away at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) ground, holders Abahani set themselves up for an easy win against giant killers Wari Club. After successfully booking Wari for 189 in 65.5 overs, the Dhanmondi outfit were comfortably placed on 41 for no loss in 12 overs.

In the third match of the day played at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, rather a strife between the two babes of the league, Pakistani middle-order Riaz Sheikh hammered the eighth ton of the league to help Orient Sporting reach 261 for seven in the stipulated 80 overs against Sadharan Bima Krira Sangstha.

Aminul, the middle-order batsman, who joined the national airlines this season after giving up his long-time affiliation with popular Mohammedan Sporting, was dropped twice (46 and 90) on his way to 94 as Biman, electing to bat first, managed to score 287 at the end of their allotted 80 overs.

Aminul, who came to bat at number four with Biman shakily placed on 38 for two in 13 overs, shared a 42-run partnership for the third wicket with his 'just engaged' skipper Faruque Ahmed before the latter was caught by Surjo Tarun skipper Minhazul Abedin at the slips off Pakistan leg-spinner Nadim Nazar.

Faruque, who faced 41 balls for his 22, hammered a huge six and a four in his hour-long stay at the crease.

After Faruque's departure, Biman lost another wicket, that of Habibul Bashar, in quick succession before Aminul shared an 84-run partnership with Pakistani leg-spinner Manzoor Akhter, who made a big contribution to the Biman total with a patient 44 off 85 balls, which included three fours.

The partnership was broken on 178 in the 56th over when the right-handed Pakistani edged Nadim Nazar to wicketkeeper Khaled Masood.

Aminul then added another 57 runs for the sixth wicket with lower middle-order Hasanuzzaman before being dismissed six runs short of what could have been a well deserved hundred.

The veteran campaigner, who constructed the Biman innings, tried to drive left-arm spinner Enamul Haque over the extra cover region but was taken by Athar Ali.

In his 200-minute vigil at the crease, Aminul, who completed his fifty by flicking Athar through the square leg boundary, faced 161 balls, which included ten sweetly timed hits across the rope.

After Aminul's poignant return with Biman on 235 in the 71st over, Hasanuzzaman and Pakistan all-rounder Nasir Shawkat took Biman to a respectable total with a quick-fire 47-run seventh wicket partnership that came from 49 balls.

Hasan, who faced 71 balls, scored 44 with the help of three fours and a huge six off Pakistani off-spinner Arshad Khan over long-on.

On the other hand, Nasir scored a run-a-ball 30 with two boundaries and also a six off Arshad Khan.

For Surjo Tarun, two spinners Enamul Haque and Nadim Nazar evenly shared four wickets.

While the tweakers ruled at the Bangabandhu, it were the seamers who sent Wari Club packing at the BKSP. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Wari, who defeated giants Kalabagan Krira Chakra last week, were bundled out for 189 in the face of some positive bowling from the two right-arm medium pacers, Iqbal Hossain and Niamur Rashid, who shared seven wickets.

Iqbal took four wickets for 23 runs in his 9.5 overs while Niamur returned with his second consecutive three-wicket haul giving away 54 runs in his 16 overs.

They were ably supported by Pakistani recruit Mohammad Hossain, who finished with two for 16 from his tight 14 overs, which included four maidens.

Replying for Abahani, opener Mehrab Hossain was unbeaten on 30 off 35 balls while his partner Azam Iqbal was not out on 10.

In the other match of the day, Pakistani middle-order Riaz Sheikh slammed an undefeated century to guide Orient to a moderate total at the end of their stipulated 80 overs.

Riaz, who hardly got any support from his team-mates, took only 99 balls for his 104, which included thirteen boundaries.

Among others, opener Abdul Karim, who shared a 49-run partnership with Mofizul Islam for the opening stand, scored 31 while lower middle-order Mridul chipped in with an unbeaten 22.

Their opponents Bima may not find the 262 target a big ask.

All the three matches conclude today.