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Abahani, Brothers' academic chance go astray

Two half-centuries from opener Mehrab Hossain and Pakistani recruit Ijaz Ahmed inspired Abahani Krira Chakra to pile up a huge total against Brothers Union in the last match of the Janakantha Premier Division League began at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Mehrab scored 80 and Ijaz, the discarded Pakistan international, hammered 85 as the popular Dhanmondi outfit, electing to bat first, amassed 358 in the stipulated 80 overs with two wickets to spare. Despite the enormity of the score, it was not enough to supersede Biman's run-rate and a likely Abahani win will only provide them the runners-up spot. Neither will a Brothers win dethrone Biman.

Abahani, who were unable to lift the league title for the third successive season, got off to a flying start with a century partnership between openers Hannan Sarkar and Mehrab, who reached three figure in 25.3 overs. The stand was broken on 102 in the same over when Brothers' skipper Khaled Mahmud trapped Hannan leg-before on 42. Hannan, who primarily rendered support to his partner Mehrab, played a patient innings. He faced 80 balls in his 101-minute stay, which included four boundaries.

Mehrab then added another 42 runs with one-down Naimur Rahman before he was run out in the 35th over, a victim of his casual approach. The national opener went for a single after pushing Towhid to the mid-off region. But he was well short of his mark, thanks to a quick throw from Shahriar.

In his 109-ball vigil, Mehrab, who reached his fourth fifty of the league from 73 balls, scored 80 runs with the help of eight fours. With yesterday's 80, Mehrab has scored a total of 484 runs, the second highest among the local batsmen. Brothers opener Shahriar, who will be batting today, has 489 runs from his previous 10 matches.

Naimur (20) was next to go in the 42nd over leaving Abahani on 167 for three.

Ijaz then partnered his skipper Akram Khan and shared a 90-run stand in the fourth wicket, during which Abahani crossed the 250-mark in the 60th over.

Brothers Pakistani left-arm spinner, Zahid Ahmed, took a simple return catch from Akram to break the partnership at 257.

Ijaz then almost single-handedly took the scoreboard to 303 before he was badly run-out on 85 in the 72nd over.

After Ijaz's return, Neeyamur Rashid and Hasibul Hossain shared a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket to enable Abahani cross the 350-mark in 78.5 overs.

Hasibul, who scored a run-a-ball 25 with a huge six and a boundary, was caught at long on when he drove Khaled Mahmud while Neeyamur, who scored 26 off 36 balls, was stumped by wicketkeeper Jahangir in the next delivery.

Brothers will begin their innings this morning.