Mohammedan Sporting could not think of the better way to go into their emotional bout with arch rivals Abahani Krira Chakra as the popular Motijheel outfit scored a huge moral-boosting 129-run win over Brothers Union in a crucial Janakantha Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Defending a fighting total of 294, Mohammedan, who will lock horns with holders Abahani in their next match starting Saturday, went on to bundle out high-flying Brothers Union for a paltry 165 in 52.4 overs to pull of a surprisingly facile victory.
The big win for Mohammedan not only brightened their chances of regaining the title after a couple of disastrous seasons, but also ushered hopes of an intriguing finish to the topsy-turvy League.
Mohammedan are now on equal terms at the crowded top slot with Abahani, Brothers and Biman, all having six wins from eight matches. But, among the quartet, Biman seem to have profited the most after Brothers faltered at this climacteric stage of the League.
Brothers were, however, only to be blamed for surrendering meekly after a solid start.
The Gopibagh outfit went into lunch with 113 for two in 31 overs. But the face of the game saw a sea of change after the sandwiches when the perennial bridesmaid lost their last eight wickets for the addition of only 51 runs to the total.
The rot started when opener Shahriar Hossain departed in the first over after lunch. He scored exactly 50 off 110 balls with the help of five fours and a sixer. Once Shahriar departed, the rest perished in a bizarre fashion playing some reckless shots against a controlled Mohammedan attack.
Sanuar, who is going through a lean patch, scored a struggling 12 off 31 balls before falling to a fine diving catch by wicketkeeper Murtoza off left-arm seamer Monjurul.
Pakistani Aamir Hanif and skipper Khaled Mahmud hung around for a while after Brothers
were reduced to 130 for four. But both the experienced campaigners paid the penalty of paying little respect to the bowlers.
Aamir Hanif, on 12, tried to push for a single on the on-side but ended up offering a simple return catch to Kenyan all-rounder Steve Tikolo. The other Kenyan, Maurice Odumbe, then had Mahmud smartly caught by Murtoza down the leg-side to decisively take the wind from the Brothers' sail.
Rafique, who rotated his bowlers with aplomb, then mopped up the Brothers tail to finish with four for 24 in his 8.4 overs.