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Mohammedan in ignominy

A sublime performance by Manzoor Akhter provided Bangladesh Biman the much-needed thrust to burst onto cloud nine with an exciting four-wicket win over Wari Club in their final Janakantha Premier League match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The sturdy Pakistani right- handed batsman held an apprehensive Biman together with an unbeaten 77. He steered the national airline outfit, set to score 211 to confirm their fifth League title, to the coast in 53 overs and with four wickets in hand.

Biman made a heavy weather of a simple task when they, resuming at 58 for two, plunged into deep trouble losing three more wickets in quick succession with the scoreboard reading at 83.

Opener Habibul could add 14 runs to his overnight score of 24 before being caught by Nasim off Wari's handy Pakistani recruit Aamir Wasim. Vice-captain Aminul Islam fell for one when he edged an attempted cut into the safe hands of wicketkeper Mukter. Nightwatchman Ziaur Rashid scored a painstaking three off 31 balls before being clean bowled by Wasim.

But when Biman looked to be wilting under pressure, number seven batsman Manzoor trudged on to the field to save his side as the last recognised batsman. The man for crisis, with three centuries under his belt, steadied the rocking Biman, putting on 53 runs for the sixth wicket with Jahangir Talukder.

Pushed up in the batting order, Jahangir, the former national left-arm seamer who is known for his highly unorthodox batting style, more than justified his elevation when he scored a priceless 19, that too in an unusually composed style. He became the victim of a brilliant one-handed diving effort at forward short-leg by Biplob.

Manzoor then found a wily partner in Hasanuzzaman to take the wind out of Wari sails, sharing 75 runs for the undefeated seventh wicket.

Manzoor could not have thought of a better way to wind up an outstanding season both with the bat and ball when the discarded Pakistani leg-spinner hit the winning run, a single towards mid-on in the last ball of the 53rd over, much to the relief of an almost blushed Biman supporters and officials.

The Pakistani was immediately mobbed by his teammates after yet another tremendous performance. Manzoor, who scored 571 runs in the League, was the toast of an on-field victory celebration after the match.

Biman have every reason to celebrate the fifth title triumph after a long lay off, but the national airline outfit will have to wait till the final League match between Abahani and Brothers for an official declaration.

Although a mathematical calculation still leaves a remote chance for both Abahani and Brothers to pip Biman at the post. They will require not only a victory but a world record performance to surpass the impressive net run-rate of Biman. For instance, if holder Abahani, who are enjoying a better net run-rate than Brothers, want to cook the Biman goose they will have to score 650 runs in the stipulated 80 overs and then also need to bowl the Gopibagh team out for less then 50 runs.

When Biman were in a party mood at Dhanmondi, it was altogether a different picture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium where Mohammedan completed yet another disastrous season conceding a humiliating 151-run defeat at the hands of lowly Victoria.

Mohammedan sunk further in depths of despair as the popular Motijheel outfit, chasing a fighting Victoria total of 254, was bundled out for a paltry 103 in 43 overs.

Finished fifth and fourth in the last couple of seasons, Mohammedan showed hardly any sign of recovery after their defeat against arch-rivals Abahani and promotees Orient Club. It was Mohammedan's third defeat on a trot and fifth in eleven matches.

Although a defeat for Mohammedan was always on the cards, but the way they succumbed to Victoria it gave even a loyal supporter a frustration of his life. Victoria new-ball bowler Al-Amin, who finished with enviable six for 39 in 13 overs, was the wrecker-in-chief.

The Abahani-Brothers match, scheduled for Feb 8-9, will now be held on Feb 11-12 due to hartal called by opposition parties. But the other two matches billed for today will duly commence. Kalabagan will take on Sadharan Bima at the Dhanmondi Stadium while Ajax will face Orient away at the BKSP ground.

Result: Victoria won by 151 runs.