Mohammedan Sporting, the last year champions, secured the place next to Victoria Sporting in GrameenPhone Premier League 2001-2002 today. The renowned club from Motijhil outplayed Bangladesh Biman convincingly in a reduced over match held in BNS ground today. Chasing Mohammedan's total of 226 for 9 in 43 overs Biman was restricted to 188 in the 38th over.

Faruk Ahmed, the Biman skipper won the toss alike yesterday and sent Mohammedan to bat first in a moist wicket conductive to lateral movements. Al-Amin triggered a collapse in Mohammedan top order in similar fashion as he did yesterday. The successful due Ehsanul Haq and Steve Tikolo fell cheaply. The club lost their third wicket on 13, but Sanwar Hossain and Habibul Bashar added 75 valuable runs in the fourth wicket.

Bashar made a swashbuckling 40 before making that shot imprudently that got him out at the hands of Sajjad Kadir. Sanwar joined him soon making 46. Mohammed Rafique (44), the leftie promoted to the middle order, scored off some very quick runs, hammered two massive sixes in his innings. Captain Minhajul Abedin put a brave show under pressure to notch up a brilliant 56 at the crucial point and Shabbir Khan also chipped in with 15. With their efforts Mohammedan amassed 226 for 9 after 43 overs. It is noticeable that 7 overs have been reduced due to unplayable ground condition early in the morning.

Biman, though made a flying start heralded by Imran Farhat, lost some wickets in quick succession. Farhat, the left handed attacking batsman from Pakistan, quick fired 44 off just 32 deliveries with the help of 4 boundaries and a six. He was put away by Taposh Kumar and Biman's run rate started to decline.

After the departure of Hasanuzzaman (12) and Aminul Islam (26) Biman's chances fell away, but Khaled Mahmud, the diminitive all rounder made Mohammedan's task a bit difficult. He was the danger man at those moments, picking up the odd ball to slam boundaries. At the other end his pa,rtners were leaving in regular interval.

Mahmud made 42 off 45 balls and with his dismissal Biman's innings saw its finish with the score on 188. Taposh Kumar, though got some earlier punishments from Farhat, ended up with 3 for 50. Minhajul Abedin, at the age of 38 playing so nicely, were rightly declared as the man-of-the-match.

© CricInfo