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Bima bemuse Mohammedan

The Janakantha Premier League got the final shape yesterday with Bangladesh Biman moving within one match of a potential championship by crushing Victoria Sporting Club by 197 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Defending a mammoth total of 373 in the stipulated 80 over, Biman shot Victoria out for a paltry 176 in 50.3 overs to confirm their eighth win from ten matches. The national airline outfit only needs a win against lowly Wari Club in the last league match, starting on February 7, to dethrone holders Abahani.

As Biman scored a predictable victory at the Dhanmondi ground, the shock of the day came at the Bangabandhu National Stadium where Shadharan Bima stunned Mohammedan Sporting Club.

The promotees, desperately needing a victory to remain in the elite 12-team echelon for one more year, got the priceless two pints when they handed Mohammedan a three-wicket defeat thanks to a magnificent 107 from their Indian recruit Kamol Chopra, who single-handedly guided Bima cross the modest Mohammedan total of 204.

Resuming the day, at 27 for two, Sadharan Biman had added only 12 runs to their overnight total when they lost the wicket of opener Moni for 15. But coming in to bat at number five, Chopra not only stopped the slid, but also took the wind from Mohammedan sail in his absorbing 141-ball knock.

The stockily-built right hander put on 60 runs for fourth wicket with Mizanur, who fell for 34. Skipper Rafique, who made the break-through, gave a moment of respite for Mohammedan when the slow left-armer had Chopra's compatriot Rajinder Singh caught for a duck in the same over.

Rajinder, the leading run-getter in the league, faced only three deliveries before being caught behind while attempting a cuts. But Chopra had other ideas in mind. Chopra walloped his way to a scintillating century with the help of 19 boundaries. He was eventually out in the 56th over with Bima needing one run for victory.

The defeat, Mohammedans second in a row and four from ten matches, served a severe blow in their quest for claiming even a decent position after Abahani ended their title hopes with a 11-run win in the previous match. The popular Motijheel outfit are now tied up with Kalabagan in the distant third position behind Abahani and Brothers, who are closely following table leaders Biman with seven wins apiece.

On the other hand, with this win Bima skipped the dreaded relegation zone, leaving Orient to face a possible elimination from the Premier League this season along with Ajax sporting Club.

Although both Orient and Ajax have one win apiece, Ajax confirmed their demotion yesterday when they conceded a 54-run defeat in their penultimate league match against Agrani Bank at BKSP in Savar.

Ajax, chasing a huge Bank total of 301 for eight in the stipulated 80 overs, could manage only 247 before being all out with one over to spare.