In the end, despite a comfortable victory of 43 runs, Mohammedan had to sweat a lot to win against the weak and weak City Club without the experienced Mahmudullah Riyad and the smart cricketer Mehdi Hasan Miraj.
On Tuesday, BKSP’s field number 3, mainly opener Roni Talukder and wicketkeeper Mahidul Islam, Mohammedan got a fighting capital of 240 runs.
Not a good start. Skipper and opener Imrul Kayes returned for only 8 runs after going down to open. After breaking the opening pair for 12 runs, Roni and Dakhna took the lead. They averaged 137 runs to take the team’s runs to almost 150.
But after two sets of batter Ronnie and drawing out in just 4 balls, the whole scenario changed. And no one could settle on the wicket. The turn to come and go begins. Later fell to 91 runs for 7 wickets. City club bowler Mehdi Hasan alone took 4 wickets. Offspinner Sanjit Saha took 2 wickets.
Mohammedan had to fight to defend 240 runs. City Club’s Rafsan Al Mahmud, Moinul Islam, Shahriar Kamal and Hasan could not open their hands but challenged the Mohammedan bowlers from the wicket. However, long-bodied young fast bowler Mushfiq Hasan and two off-spinners Ariful Islam and Naeem Hasan bowled well and gave Mohammedan victory.
Short score Mohammedan: 240/10 in 49.3 overs (Imrul Kayes 8, Rony Talukder 71, Mahidul Draw 67, Tarnik Nawroz Nabil 1, Ariful 19, Rubel Mia 33, Ariful Haque 16, Nasum Ahmed 6, Abu Haider Rony 9, Naeem Hasan 3, Mushfiq Hasan 0; Mehdi Hasan 4/35, Sanjit Saha 2/55, Rafsan Al Mahmud 2/25, Irfan Hossain 1/47).
City Club: 197/10 in 46.2 overs (Hasan 28, Shahriar Kamal 38, Rafsan Al Mahmood 56, Mainul Islam 36; Mushfiq Hasan 4/43, Ariful Islam 3/22, Naeem Hasan 2/32, Ariful Haque 1/29)
Results: Mohammedan won by 43 runs. Man of the Match: Mushfiq Hasan (Mohammedan).
