Mohammedan Sporting conquered with venom their long-standing nemesis Kalabagan Krira Chakra when the popular Motijheel outfit handed their fancied opponents a huge nine-wicket defeat in a crucial Janakantha Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. So exacting was Mohammedan's win that they packed up the two-day match on day one, the first such occurrence this season.
Mohammedan, who lost four previous league meetings in the last couple of seasons to Kalabagan, went on to score 138 for one after restricting Kalabagan to 133. The win decreed a sweet revenge for Mohammedan, who conceded defeat by an identical margin at the hand of Kalabagan in their last meeting at the very ground last year.
While Mohammedan made a mockery of a match at the Bangabandhu, Surjo Tarun, aided by twin tons from Navid Newaz and skipper Minhazul Abedin, piled up a mammoth 428 for six against babes Sadharan Bima at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
The eventful day, marked by a record 261-run partnership between Minhazul and Navid Newaz for the third wicket, however belonged to an unheralded Ashfaq Ali Khan Rahat.
Ashfaq celebrated his first break for Mohammedan Sporting with a five-wicket burst as Kalabagan, batting first after winning the toss in the morning, were bundled out for the lowest score in this league. The gangling right-arm seamer, who switched to Mohammedan from Abahani this year, returned with a career-best five for 44 to lay the foundation of a terrific Mohammedan win.
Not considered in the playing eleven for the first six matches, Ashfaq plotted a stunning Kalabagan collapse by claiming three wickets in successive overs after the lunch break. Kalabagan were at one stage strongly placed at 110 for two before Ashfaq started the rot by dismissing Pakistani Shahid Saeed in the second over after lunch, thanks to a brilliant catch by skipper Mohammed Rafique, who back-pedalled about fifteen yards to take the skier at long-off.
Kalabagan lost their way in the rough weather when Mushfiqur Rahman quickly followed Saeed after scoring a patient 51 off 112 balls. Mushfiq scored his back-to-back half century with the help of half-a-dozen fours before he was caught by Salahuddin at mid-on off Ashfaq's new-ball partner Monjurul.
Ashfaq then ripped through the lower-order to send Kalabagan packing forty-five minutes before tea. Kalabagan lost their last seven wickets with the addition of only 27 runs to the total.
After some brilliant bowling from unsung Ashfaq, Mohammedan took only 32 overs to confirm their fifth win with Steve Tikolo and Rashedul Haq putting on 126 runs for the undefeated second wicket.
Coming in to bat at number three after opener Selim Shahed departed at the score of only 12 runs, Tikolo hammered a stroke-filled 61 off 73 balls. The Kenyan right-hander clubbed 11 fours and a huge sixer off Masudur in his enterprising knock. It was the fifth half-century from the Kenyan run-machine this season.
Rashed, who played the perfect foil at the other end, also scored a disciplined 61 off 112 balls. It was his first fifty. The young right-hander, who hammered five fours in his polished knock, fittingly ended the chase with a straight sixer of off-spinner Masudur.
The impressive victory for Mohammedan, a present for their loyal supporters ahead of the Eid vacation, enabled them to join Biman in second position after holders Abahani and Brothers. The leaders have six wins against a defeat.
On the other hand, Kalabagan were virtually out of the title race, having conceded their third defeat in seven league engagements.
Where Kalabagan faltered, Surjo Tarun, who are on equal terms with their Dhanmondi neighbours, provided belated evidence of their strength against promotees Sadharan Bima at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
The star-studded Surjo Tarun club piled up the highest total in the league when they walloped their way to 428 for six in the stipulated 80 overs.
Minhazul scored his second century in the league when the experienced right-hander hammered a brilliant 112 off 153 balls. The former national captain, who had earlier scored 117 against Orient, clubbed 15 fours in his polished knock.
But it was Tarun's Sri Lankan left-hander Navid Newaz, who set the Dhanmondi ground alight with a blistering 173 off 199 balls. The southpaw hammered 20 disdainful fours and a couple of sixes in his whirlwind innings. Navid's 173 was also the highest individual score, surpassing Mukhter's 129 for Wari against Victoria.
Besides, Al-Shahriar, coming in to bat at number five instead of his usual number three, scored a breezy 76 off 42 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes.
The second day of the Surjo Tarun-Bima match will be played today. Unless Bima has high premium insurance, a win for Tarun is all but a matter of time.