Victory of Abahani

VICTORY OF ABAHANI.

Defending champions Abahani and their traditional rivals Mohammedan made winning starts while another giant Bangladesh Biman suffered a defeat at the hands of Surjo Torun Club on the opening day.

Old DOHS, BKSP and Gazi Tank also won their respective opening day games.

At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Ariful Haque smote three sixes during his unbeaten 22-ball 32 but his effort was not good enough to put up a challenging total for the holders after the match was reduced to 17-over-a-side due to fog.

Abahani skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza missed the first game as he was rested as per the national physio Michael Henry's advice but even without their inspirational bowler the Dhanmondi-based club restricted Partex to 103-5 in 17 overs.

Wicketkeeper batsman Sahagir Hossain took charge in the chase as the right-hander smashed five boundaries and two sixes during his 32-ball 44 while vice-captain Imran Ahmed was not out on 38 off 42 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six as Abahani reached the target for two wickets in 15.2 overs.

In the second match at the same venue, pacer Delwar Hossain made early inroads in the Biman innings by picking up three wickets and then left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib mopped up the tail with three wickets as Biman managed only 101. Surjo Torun made a disastrous start by losing two wickets for four runs but Hannan Sarker (44) and Rajin Saleh (50) associated an unbeaten 101-run stand in the third wicket stand as Surjo Torun made 105-2 in 17.1 overs.

Like Mirpur, the first match was reduced to 13-over-a-side affair at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium where Mohammedan rode on their bowlers performance to secure a 16-run victory over Young Pegasus.

Faisal Hossain smashed an unbeaten 16-ball 26 as Mohammedan scored 93 for six in 13 overs while opener Rajesh hit a 34-ball 35 but still Pegasus managed 77 for five in their share of 13 overs.

At the same venue, Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful returned among runs after a frustrating home series as the right-hander scored an unbeaten 37 off 29 balls after Mithun Ali's 45 as Gazi Tank scored 107 for 6 in 19.1 overs in reply to CCS's 106 all out in 19.4 overs.

Earlier left-arm spinner Enamul Haque claimed three wickets for 15 runs as CCS were bundled out for 106 with opener Uttam Sarker making the team highest 36 off 34 balls.

At BKSP, only seven overs could be managed for the sides in the first game due to dense fog where Victoria scored 42 for 5 and Old DOHS overcame the hurdle in 4.5 overs for the loss of one wicket.

It was full of action in the second game where man-of-the-match Shaikat Ali slammed 52 off 49 balls to guide BKSP to a 38-run victory over City Club.

Mohammad Furkan was the other notable scorer with an unbeaten 32 off 31 balls as BKSP posted to 123-8 in stipulated 20 overs.

In reply, City Club lost wickets at regular intervals before being bundled out for 85 runs in 18.3 overs.

BRIEF SCORES
PARTEX: 103-5 in 17 overs (Oasiur 21, Ariful 32 not out, extras 11; Nazmul 1-23, Sunny 1-14, Nasir 1-10).
ABAHANI: 104-2 in 15.2 overs (Imran 38 not out, Sahagir 44, extras 9; Azim 1-16, Faruq 1-22).
RESULT: Abahani won by eight wickets.

BIMAN: 101 all out in 19.4 overs (Mushfiqur 38, extras 12' Delwar 3-23, Sajib 3-21).
SURJO TORUN: 105-2 in 17.1 overs (Hannan 44 not out, Rajin 50 not out, extras 8).
RESULT: Surjo Torun won by eight wickets.

MOHAMMEDAN: 93-6 in 13 overs (Farhad 23, Faisal 26 not out, extras 7; Rubayet 3-20).
PEGASUS: 77-5 in 13 overs (Rajesh 35, extras 9; Shuvo 2-19).
RESULT: Mohammedan won by 16 runs.

VICTORIA: 42-5 in 7 overs (Arman 12, extras 2; Rashedur 2-8, Rabbi 2-2).
DOHS: 43-1 in 4.5 overs (Riyad 34 not out, extras 6, Tapash 1-8).
RESULT: Old DOHS won by nine wickets.

CCS: 106 all out in 19.4 overs (Uttam 36, extras 7; Enamul 3-15, Nayeem 2-22, Saju 2-13).
GAZI: 107-6 in 19.1 overs (Mithun 45, Ashraful 37 not out, extras 4; Sunny 2-18).
RESULT: Gazi Tank won by four wickets.

BKSP: 123-8 in 20 overs (Shaikat 52, Furkan 32 not out, extras 13; Moshiru 2-24, Rashedul 2-16).
CITY: 85 all out in 18.3 overs (Rashedul 18, extras 11; Arman 3-10, Refat 2-21).
RESULT: BKSP won by 38 runs.