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Premier div cricket
Biman bag a nail-biting win
12/26/2005
An all-round performance by national discard Mushfiqur Rahman helped Biman Bangladesh Airlines register a nail-biting two-run victory over big-spending Sonargaon Cricketers in the Premier Division Cricket League at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium in the city Sunday, reports BDNEWS.
The day's result has also brought Biman on way of victory as the national flag carrier were stumbled in the fourth round match conceding a five-wicket defeat to Victoria Sporting Club.
Mushfiqur, who put 22 off 31 balls with a massive six, grabbed last three batsmen to help restrict the Sonargaon Cricketers to 210 for nine in 50 overs.
Biman piled up a modest 212 for seven in 50 overs as the national flag carrier started their innings slowly and lost both the openers-Javed Omar (10) and Nazmus Sadat (8) - on 37 in 13.4 overs.
Shahriar Hossain and Pakistani Ashraf Ali repaired the damage putting on 49 for the third wicket before Shahriar (29) was trapped lbw by spinner Nabil Samad.
Asharf remained unbeaten with 78 off 124 balls that included six fours while duo pacers Mosharaff Hossain Rubel and Mohammad Sharif played 15 off 16 balls and 12 off 10 balls innings respectively.
In reply, Sonargaon Cricketers began smoothly, but first-changed bowler Mohammad Sharif brought the first breakthrough for Biman bowling out opener Nayeem Islam (13) in his first over and trapped another opener Rafiqul Islam (27) lbw in his third over with score-board showing 47 for two.
Then, Mohammad Ashraful and Indian Manvinder Singh repaired the damage a bit putting 80 runs for the third wicket stand before Ashraful was caught by Anisur off Mosharraf, who also bowled out Manvinder.
Manvinder was the top scorer with 57 off 89 balls with eight fours while Ashraful made 39 off 66 balls with two fours and a six.
Sonargaon were on the way of the league's third triumph, as they needed 10 runs in the last two overs before Mushfiur bowed out seventh batsman in the last delivery of the 48th overs.
But, they were derailed in the final over as Mushfiqur removed Tapash Kumar and Mahbubul Alam in the second and fourth delivery of the 50th overs to restrict the Sonargaon 210 for nine in 50 overs.
Brief score: Biman Bangladesh - 212 for seven in 50 overs (Ashraf 78, Shahriar 29, Mushfiqur 22, Rubel 22, Sharif 12, Javed 10, extras 33, Tapash Kumar 2/42).
Sonargaon Cricketers - 210 for nine in 50 overs (Manvinder 57, Asharaful 39, Rafiqul 29, Al Shahriar Rokon 20, Elias Sunny 18 not out, Rafique 16, Nayeem 13, extras 16, Mushfiqur 3/24, Rubel 3/29 and Sharif 2/37).
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