Prime Bank snatch exciting win
SPORTS REPORTER, Dhaka
Mahedi Hasans fighting 56 went in vain when Gazi Group Cricketers conceded a nine-run defeat to Prime Bank Cricket Club in their exciting first round clash of the Bangabandhu-Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League at the empty-crowd Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
Gazi Cricketers finally managed to put on 242 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs in pursuit of Prime Bank Cricket Clubs moderate 251for six.
Gazi Group Cricketers fumbled in the third ball of the very second over of the innings to chase the moderate target set by Tamim Iqbal led Prime Bank when Nayeem Hasan trapped Zakir Hasan leg-before-wicket (lbw).
Soumya Sarkar in association with Mominul Haque showed an effort to rescue the ship from the initial hiccup and struck together 49 runs for the second wicket before Shoriful Islam eliminated Mominul Haque for 42-ball 28.
Getting a reprieve on 24 while Tamim Iqbal failed to take the catch at long-on, Soumya Sarkar did not capitalize it to make a big score though he stitched another 51 runs with Mahmudullah Riyad but he fell to Nahidul Islam when he was one run shy of half-century. Soumya smashed five fours and a maximum in his 51-ball 49.
Nahidul pushed them backward further when he dismantled Yasir Ali Chowdhury measly while Gazi Cricketers were sprawling at 107-4.
They still had hopes of winning the match but leg-spinner Alok Kapali got rid of Mahmudullah for 32. Kapali run out Akbar Ali for 28-ball 31 after Mustafizur Rahman unsettled Ariful Haque for 20.
Finally Mahedi Hasan showed a glimmer of hopes with his blitz but his effort fell short. Mahedi Hasan was on 56 not out. Mahedi struck a six to complete his half-century.
Nahidul Islam was named player of the match for his all-round show as he smoked an unbeaten 53 coupled with a brace of wickets.
Earlier, an unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 96 from Nahidul Islam (53 not out) and Nayeem Hasan (46 not out) along with Rony Talukdars 79 powered Prime Bank Cricket Club to muster a fighting 251-6 against Gazi Group Cricketers
After being asked to bat, Prime Bank Cricket Club mislaid opener Anamul Haque Bijoy before opening their account in the very second over of the innings when new pace sensation Mahmud Hasan removed Bijoy for a three-ball duck.
Together with Rony Talukdar, captain Tamim Iqbal attempted to handle the combined pace and spin attack of the Gazi Cricketers bowlers and hit a useful 46 for the second-wicket stand before breaking the partnership. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed was accountable for Tamim Iqbal, who got out for 19 off 47 that featured a boundary.
The promising spinner, who got maiden call from the national team for the concluded T20 home series against Zimbabwe, picked up his second wicket when he clean bowled Rokibul Hasan cheaply, just nine runs after Tamim departure.
Since then, Rony Talukdar then pulled together a priceless 55 with Mohammad Mithun for the fourth-wicket stand that surpassed the 100-run mark. Mahmudullah Riyad trapped Mithun leg-before wicket for 27. Mohammad Mithun clubbed a maximum and two boundaries in his 39-ball knock. In the meantime, Talukdar brought up his fifty.
To add another 29 with Alok Kapali, Rony Talukdar was pinned down by Mahmudullah Riyad, who was responsible for the dismissal of Alok Kapali (17). Rony banged team-high 79 off 104, littered with seven fours and two sixes.
Later, Nahidul Islam and Nayeem Hasan played a whirlwind innings of 96 for the unbeaten seventh-wicket stand that helped them put a fighting total of 251 on the board.
After Rony Talukdar, Nahidul Islam also notched up half-century from 43 balls. He clouted three sixes and as many fours in his indefatigable 53-run burst. Nayeem Hasan remained unbeaten on 46 off 36, clobbering half-a-dozen boundaries. Mahmudullah Riyad grabbed three, while Nasum Ahmed claimed two wickets for Gazi Group Cricketers.
