Abahani down MSC in prestigious match
Liton, Shanto crack tons for Abahani as Raqibul blasts record 190 for MSC
Sports Reporter
Abahani Limited prevailed in the high-scoring thriller against the archrivals Mohammedan Sporting Club, gate-crashing the party of Raqibul Hasan who threatened to take away the match with an epic 190 runs at BKSP-4 ground yesterday in the Walton Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
Even though the past aura between the two traditional rivals were absent like the heydays, the match turned out to be highly entertaining for the few spectators in the stadium.
Riding on two centuries from opener Liton Das and youngster Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abahani racked up a massive 366 for five, highest in the seasons league. Mohammedan simply denied leaving the ground without giving it a desperate try. Skipper Raqibul Hasan was to the fore to steer Mohammedan to almost materialise to what looked unbelievable. They were finally restricted to 339 for nine.
Raqibul, the national discard, smacked 17 boundaries and 10 sixes in his 138 ball-190, inscribing his name to the folklore of Bangladeshs List A crickets history. It is now the highest List A score by any Bangladeshi batsman. To add glory to the feat, it is the highest List A score in Bangladeshs soil, eclipsing Shane Watsons 185 which he scored against Bangladesh during Australias ODI tour in 2011.
Raqibul is now the holder of highest individual scorer of Bangladesh in both List A and first class cricket. His unbeaten 313 in the first class cricket remains only the triple century hit by any Bangladeshi batsman.
The greatness of the knock lied in his never-say-die attitude in the crease. He came to the crease when the side was reeling on a precarious 38 for three in just ninth over. From that point the match seemed to be over.
Raqibul was unfazed to the relentless pressure and unleashed the shots from the repertoire right from the beginning of the innings. Sri Lankan recruit Charith Asalanka came up as a great help for him as the due shared 175 runs off 126 balls to reverse the pressure on Abahani.
However Abahanis Indian left arm spinner Manan Sharma who was responsible to slice the Mohammedans top order gave the side a respite taking out Asalanka after he hit 63 off 60, sending the ball across the rope for eight times.
Manan Sharma kept striking thereafter but Raqibul continued striking the ball with power and passion to keep Mohammedan on course. There was no support from the other end and the asking run rate was escalating alarmingly.
Amidst the teams downfall, Raqibul however came on the verge of hitting 200. Kazi Anik deprived him from the feat, dismissing him in the second ball of the last over. By then the defeat was certain.
Manan Sharma heaved a huge sigh of relief as his five for 47 in his maiden match in Dhaka league looked to be foiled by the carnage of Raqibul.
The epic knock delivered by Raqibul put a shed of the century of Liton Das and Shanto. The former touted as the most talented batsman of his generation but a prolonged bad form cost him the place in the national team. He however hit back to the form with a gutsy 135 off 103, smashing 15 fours and two sixes. Shanto continued his rich vein of form with 100 ball-110, designed by three fours and six sixes.
They paved the platform of a big total with 109 runs for the second wicket after Liton along with his fellow opener Shadman Islam shared 103 runs.
Shuvagata Hom then took the side in a daunting position by hammering 27 ball-48 with three fours and two sixes.
Amid the run-fest left arm spinner Taijul Islam however still took three for 57 in his 10 overs quota.
