Mohammedan Sporting tasted their first defeat after three consecutive wins when the popular Motijheel outfit surrendered to Surjo Tarun by 39 runs in the most dreadful manner in a Janakantha Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Mohammedan, chasing a commanding Surjo Tarun total of 319 for eight in the stipulated 80 overs, could manage 280 before being all out in 74.4 overs. But with a couple of thousand loyal supporters attending, Mohammedan were only to be blamed for yielding from a winning position, losing their last seven wickets for the addition of only 13 runs to the total.
Mohammedan were strongly placed at 267 for three in 68.5 overs before a soft dismissal of Nasirul Alam changed the whole complexion of the game. Nasir was going great guns in company with Steven Tikolo, putting on 67 runs for the fourth wicket.
But once the former national left-arm seamer Anisur Rahman made the vital breakthrough by having the young right-hander caught at cover for a stroke-filled 42 off 55 balls, Mohammedan lost their way in the woods.
The real rot however started in the next over when slow left-armer Enamul Haq took two wickets in the space of four deliveries. He had Halim Shah caught behind for a first-ball duck before removing Rafique for nought.
The Mohammedan captain, who was out to prove that brains can often lodge in one's knees, went for an ambitious shot in the third ball he faced. He was caught at deep mid-wicket by Athar from an uncalled-for shot.
The double blow only exposed the under belly of Mohammedan. And Surjo Tarun, with their tails up, made no mistake to mop up the vulnerable hind in no time.
Tikolo, with a 125-ball 82, however was carrying the Mohammedan hopes. But the Kenyan right-hander, apparently panicking due to the sudden slide, also lost his cool in the 73rd over. With Mohammedan needing 46 runs to win, Tikolo turned a half-hearted lofted on-drive to a simple catch into the safe hands of Al-Shahriar. In the process, any hopes of a Mohammedan turn around was effectively dismissed.
Anis, who had earlier captured the wicket of Odumbe, proved to be the best man in the business when he heralded the Mohammedan fall to eventually finish with five for 46 in his 15.4 overs.
Apart from the debacle in the post-tea session, Mohammedan were on top against the million taka Tarun. They were given a flying start by their left-handed opener Imran Hamid, who hammered a dazzling 106-ball 78. Imran shared 93 runs with Selim Shahed in 27.4 overs to lay the foundation before the latter departed for a defiant 31.
Imran then went on to add 52 runs for the second wicket with Tikolo before being clean bowled by Enamul.
Tikolo and his compatriot Maurice Odumbe added 53 runs for the third wicket. The two Kenyans, in an abject lesson for our notoriously tardy cricketers, demonstrated great running between the wickets. Surprisingly though the two experienced campaigners showed little patience in a tempting condition in the middle.
Odumbe, irked by the constant blabbering from wicketkeeper Khaled Masood, got carried away only to pay the penalty through the nose. He went for a big hit off Anis, only to be caught at deep mid-wicket by Athar after scoring only 18.
The victory offered a new lease of life for Surjo Tarun after their heavy defeat against Bangladesh Biman in the previous match.
On the other hand, Mohammedan became the latest cropper in the long casualty list after Kalabagan, Brothers and Surjo Tarun. They all have conceded a defeat on completion of their four league engagements.
While Mohammedan faltered, Bangladesh Biman extended their all-win record with a predictably facile five-wicket win over babes Orient SC at the BKSP in Savar.
Resuming on 120 for four in rely to a paltry Orient total of 140, Biman needed only half-an-hour to reach their target, 143 for five in 35.3 overs. It was Biman's fourth win on a trot to join holders Abahani at the top of the league table.
At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, promotees Sadharan Bima, aided by a brilliant half century from Rajinder Singh, defeated Victoria by four wickets. It was Bima's second win after two defeats.
Rajinder, the genial sardarji from across the boarder, scored a fluent 79 as Sadharan Bima, needing 176 to win, reached their goal in 49.2 overs with four wickets in hand.
Rajinder shared an invaluable 86 runs for the fifth wicket with Babu after Sadharan Bima, chasing Victoria's 175 all out in 71 overs, were reduced to four for 75 in 18.2 overs.
It was Victoria's fourth defeat from as many matches.