The Daily Star, Bangladesh
The Daily Star carries daily news and opinion from Bangladesh and around the world.

Bangladesh: Biman force MSC to their knees

Our Sports Reporter
1 January 1999



Wari win despite Rajinder's ton, Victoria's maiden win

Mohammedan Sporting suffered their worst defeat ever when title chasers Biman han-ded them a humiliating 222-run defeat in a Janakantha Premier Division Cricket League en-counter, which concluded at the Bangabandhu National Sta-dium yesterday.

In the other two matches, Shadharan Bima suffered a loss to Wari Club by 36 runs despite a century from Indian middle-order Rajinder Singh at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, while Victoria Sporting registered their maiden victory thrashing promotees Orient Sporting by 61 runs at the BKSP ground.

Biman's Pakistan all-rounder Manzoor Akhter, who earlier on Wednesday scored an unbeaten 124 to help Biman pile up 329 for 8 in their stipulated 80 overs, yesterday took five wickets with his lethal leg spinners as Mohammedan, needing 330 to win in 80 overs, were bundled out for a paltry 107 before they could even exhaust half their quota of overs.

Manzoor, the short Karachi-based discarded Pakistan international, struck in his very second over of the day by dismissing dangerman Tikolo for eight and then removed three Mohammedan batsmen--Halim Shah (1), Mohammad Rafique (0) and Shahed Mehmud (0) in his fourth over in the space of five balls to see Mohammedan in total jeopardy on 80 for seven in 28 overs.

Tikolo, the experienced Kenyan, who had been consistently scoring for the Motijheel outfit, was caught by Hasanuzzaman at forward short leg when he tried to block Manzoor while Halim Shah was taken by Javed Omar at backward leg slip when he tried to sweep Manzoor but missed the line resulting a top edge. Rafique was then bowled by Manzoor while trying to play across a googly. Shahed Mahmud then gave a simple catch to Ziaur Rashid at silly point.

After Mehmud's departure, Mohammedan went for lunch on 91 without any further damage.

But they could resist the Biman attack for another five overs after lunch before being all out for 107.

The outcome of the match left Biman at the top of the 12-team elite league having won all their five matches. On the other hand, it was the second defeat in a row for Mohammedan on completion of their fifth encounter.

Holders Abahani, Brothers Union, Kalabagan Krira Chak-ra and Surjo Tarun have four wins having played five mat-ches each.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, another Pakistani all-rounder Tareque Mehmood guided Wari Club to a 36-run win over new-comers Sadharan Bima Krira Sangstha.

Tareque, who scored his second century of the league (128) on the previous day to enable Wari reach 322 in their stipulated 80 overs, went on to capture three wickets for 52 runs to shoot out Bima for 286 in 76 overs.

He was ably helped by medium-pacer Zahid who finished with two for 39.

For Bima, Indian middle-order Rajinder Singh slammed 112 of 133 balls but that did not come to any good as none of his other team-mates could reach a fifty. It was the 13th century of the league.

Away at the BKSP, Victoria Sporting Club, defending their overnight total of 267, shot out Orient for 206 in 73 overs.


Source: The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Editorial comments can be sent to The Daily Star at webmaster@dailystarnews.com