Solid batting performance from the top order propelled Brothers Union to the top of the Janakantha Premier Division Cricket League table with an emphatic six-wicket victory over powerful Biman in a crucial match that ended at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
The outcome of the match left Brothers, the reigning runners up, jointly atop the elite league with holders Abahani, each having six wins against a defeat.
On the other hand, the second successive defeat for Biman, who won their first five matches, flung the national airlines to second position. Biman lost their previous match to Kalabagan by three wickets. Biman now share the second spot with Kalabagan and Mohammedan, who clash today at same venue.
Back to the match. Although all the top order Brothers batsmen played responsible innings, it was national opener Shahriar, who gave a solid foundation to the innings with a more than three-hour stay at the crease.
Shahriar scored a patient 64 as the Gopibagh outfit, who began with their overnight total of 37 for no loss from 10 overs in chasing a fighting Biman total 263 in 80 overs, went on to score 266 before tea in 77 overs with six wickets to spare.
The right-hand opener shared a 75-run partnership with young Ehsanul Haque for the first wicket before the latter was caught by Talha at deep cover. In his 91-ball stay, Ehsanul scored 34 runs with four boundaries.
Shahriar than shared an invaluable 94-run union with one-down Jahangir Alam. Brothers went for lunch with 135 on the board from 47 overs with the loss of one wicket. The partnership was broken on 168 when Shahriar edged one to wicketkeeper Atiar while trying to drive left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed. With yesterday's 64, Shahriar has scored 302 runs in seven matches, the highest among local batsman.
After Shahriar's departure, Brothers lost two wickets in quick succession. Jahangir, who scored a magnificent 50 off 90 balls with three fours, was unfortunately adjudged leg-before by Sri Lankan umpire Botejo to Pakistan leg-spinner Manzoor Akhter, whose delivery seemed to have pitched outside the leg stump. Then middle-order Sanwar returned with his second duck of the season.
After losing three wickets in six overs, Brothers were on 177 for four in the 61st over. At that juncture, skipper Khaled Mahmud joined Pakistan middle-order Aamir Hanif and the couple carried the side to victory. They shared a breezy and unbeaten 89-run fifth wicket partnership.
Both the right-handers were undefeated on 43 runs. Mahmud, who took 48 balls for his swashbuckling knock, smote four boundaries while Hanif faced 66 balls for his 43 which included an equal number of fours and a huge six.
In the other match which also concluded on the day, Victoria Sporting salvaged themselves somewhat from the relegation threat with a comfortable 108-run win over Ajax Sporting at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
Left-arm spinner and captain Mustadir Litu returned with 4/25 as Ajax, chasing a commanding Victoria total of 286 in 80 overs, were shot out for 178 in 63.3 overs. He was ably helped by offie Jewel Hossain, who finished with three for 25.
It was Victoria's third win in the league in eight matches. For Ajax, it was their seventh defeat in eight matches and look almost a certainty for demotion.
Result: Victoria won by 108 runs.
Today's Matches
Kalabagan vs Mohammedan (Venue: Bangabandhu National Stadium)
Surjo Tarun vs Sadharan Bima (Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium)