Mehedi hits ton on his List-A debut
Gazi Group outclass champions Prime Bank
Sports Reporter
Uncapped Mehedi Hasan justified his selection when he smashed a scintillating century in his List-A debut for Gazi Group Cricketers yesterday.
Riding on Mehedis century Gazi Group Cricketers got off to a flying start with a 106-run victory over defending champions Prime Bank Cricket Club in one of the opening day matches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in the capital.
Right-handed youngster clattered five sixes as well as eight boundaries in his 109-ball 103. Although it is his first in List-A match, he played in National Cricket League (NCL) for Khulna and Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) for South Zone.
In February, the 20-year-old made his first class cricket debut in where he struck 51. But he blasted his maiden century (140) in his third match against Dhaka Metro though he clubbed another century in his seventh match.
A stand of 113-run opening partnership by Anamul Haque and Shamsur Rahman laid a solid ground for the winners. Sabbir Rahman broke the partnership by electrifying fielding when Shamsur Rahman was run out for 56.
At this stage, Mehedi Hasan came to the crease and partnered Anamul Haque. Mehedi extended the scoring by four, six and singles. He made his fifty from 58 balls and then brought up his hundred from 88 deliveries when he hooked Rubel Hossain for boundary.
On way to his 103, he stitched together a couple of successful partnership including 54-run second wicket with Anamul Haque, 84-run with Saeed Anwar Jr for the third wicket stand. When he was trapped lbw by Rubel Hossain, the scoreboard was reading on 276-4. Finally Gazi Group Cricketers managed to set a target of 304 for the Bankers. The defending champions, in reply, were bopwled out for 197 in 46.3 overs.
Chasing the target, Prime Bank Cricket Club stumbled in the very first over of the innings when their foreign recruit Dilshan Munaweera walked back with just four. Thereafter, they lost other opener Mehedi Maruf cheaply.
The defending champions were teetering further when they lost another three important wickets in the space of 25 runs.
Together with Yasir Ali, Taibur Rahman made a resistance by making 48-run for the sixth wicket. Before being caught behind by Anamul Haque off Moinul Islam, Yasir top-scored for the Bankers with 56 off 80, clobbering one six and four fours.
Rubel Hossain (45), Sabbir Hossain (31) and Taibur Rahman (30) were the other mentionable scorers for Prime Bank.
Saeed Anwar Jr. was the pick of the bowlers for Gazi Group, scalping three for 31. Mohammad Sharif and Moinul Islam picked a brace each, while Delwar Hossain, Mehedi Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman snapped up one wicket a piece for the winners.
Mehedi, who was adjudged the player of the match for his outstanding batting performance, said after the match that he never thought of hitting century in the opening match.
Its not possible to hit a century by making a pre-match prediction. I was normal in the game. I went cracking after being steady in the wicket. I was doing mistakes time and again. But Salahuddin Sir sent information from the outside and corrected it, Khulna-born Mehedi Hasan told media.
