An unbeaten century from discarded Pakistan all-rounder Manzoor Akhter helped title aspirants Biman pile up a fighting total against Mohammedan Sporting in a crucial Janakantha Premier Division Cricket League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The right-handed middle-order batsman scored 124 as Biman, batting first after winning the toss, amassed a huge 329 for eight in the stipulated 80 overs.
At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, another Pakistani Tareque Mahmood slammed his second century to guide Wari Club to 322 against promotees Sadharan Bima.
Away at the BKSP, Victoria Sporting scored 267 against Orient Sporting.
Manzoor, who came to bat at number five with Biman tottering at 88 for four in the 26th over, put on a century partnership with Habibul Bashar for the fifth wicket.
The duo took Biman to 199 before Habibul, the discarded national middle-order batsman, edged an intended cut to wicketkeeper Mortuza after scoring 60. Habibul clubbed four boundaries in his 102-ball knock.
Manzoor, who was let off by his compatriot Shahed Meh-mud while on 56, added another 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Hasanuzzaman (13). He then took Biman past the 300-mark, putting on an invaluable 51-run for the eighth wicket with stumper Atiar Rahman.
In his almost four-hour stay, Manzoor hammered eleven sweetly-timed hits across the rope.
Earlier, Biman, the only unbeaten team in the fray, seemed to have lost their way after a sound start. Openers Javed Omar and Ziaur Rashid put on 53 runs in 16 overs.
Javed scored 24 with the help of six boundaries before being trapped leg before by Rafique.
Once Javed departed, Biman lost three more wickets in next ten overs with the addition of only 33 runs.
Rafique captured his second wicket when Ziaur (13) miscued an attempted sweep straight to the waiting hands of substitute fielder Ashfaq Ali at the square leg.
National captain Aminul scored only one run before being caught at slips by Tikolo off leggie Shahed Mehmud, who played his first match of the season in place of Maurice Odumbe. Skipper Faruque edged an Manzurul Islam outswinger to Tikolo at the same place.
At the Dhanmondi Stadium, Wari's handsome total of 322 for nine in 80 overs was built around a superb 128 from Pakistan middle-order Tareque Mahmood.
Tareque, who scored 105 against Kalabagan Krira Chak-ra two weeks back, remained on the crease for more than three hours and smote 19 fours and a huge six in his 187-ball innings. It was the twelfth ton in the league and the eighth by a Pakistani.
Shamim Hasan with 36 and Nasim Ahmed, who scored a run-a-ball 34, were the other notable contribution to the Wari total.
In the other match of the day at the BKSP, Victoria Sporting, put into bat, were all out for 267 in 72.5 overs against new-comers Orient Sporting.
Jewel Hossain scored highest 68 off 85 balls while opener Imran made 58.
For Orient, former national seamer Mizanur Rahman returned most successful with three for 38 in his 13.5 overs.
All the three matches will continue today.