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A magnificent 83 from lower middle-order batsman Neeyamur Rashid helped holders Abahani garner a defendable total against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club in a crucial Janakantha Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

In front of a strong band of spectators, Neeyamur stepped forward to do the gritty rescue act as Abahani, who lost half of their wickets for only 100 runs, recovered to score 266 before being all out in 76 overs.

Electing to bat first on a perfect batting track, Abahani were soon awe-stricken in the face of some fine bowling display of Mohammedan. The popular Dhanmondi outfit lost four top-order batsmen for only 58 runs in 17.3 overs.

Situation even worsened for the defending champions when opener Mehrab Hossain, the last recognised batsman of Abahani, returned to the dressing room in the first over after the lunch break, with the scoreboard reading at 117 for six in 31 overs. Mehrab scored 46.

The young right-hander, who clobbered three boundaries off right-arm seamer Ashfaque Ali, perished in that eventful over while gunning for the fourth one. He was caught by Nasirul at backward square leg while trying to smash it over mid-wicket.

The fall of Mehrab should sound the final whistle for Abahani. But much to the frustration of Mohammedan supporters, Neeyamur, a matured head on a young shoulder, rose to occasion with a dazzling batting display, dead-lifting Abahani from the mire to a respectability.

Known for his exploits when chips are down, the Abahani saviour, with the help of tail-enders, mixed caution with aggression to operate the spectacular recovery act.

Neeyamur put on 40 runs with wicketkeeper Nuruzzaman for the seventh wicket and then added another 35 runs with Hasibul. The eighth wicket partnership was however dominated by Hasibul, who scored 24 runs off 42 balls with a huge six and two fours.

But the most remarkable partnership in the Abahani innings came when Iqbal joined Neeyamur. Together, the two mustered 70 runs that helped Abahani cross 250-mark in the 68th over.

The partnership ended at 262 when Neeyamur was caught by Rashedul Haque off the bowling of Selim Shahed at the long-on boundary.

In his more than three-hour stay at the crease, Neeyamur faced 118 balls, hit eight fours and a six.

Earlier, in the morning, Abahani slipped into deep trouble while negotiating some fired-up bowling of Mohammedan skipper Mohammad Rafique and the new-ball pair of Ashfaque Ali and Manjurul Islam.

Left-arm spinner Rafique made the initial break-through by trapping opener Hannan Sarkar (24) leg before in the ninth over. Manjurul then sent one-down Azam Iqbal back for 5 forcing the right-hander edge to the wicketkeeper.

Naimur Rahman scored only one run before being adjudged leg before off a straight delivery from Ashfaque Ali. While his skipper Akram Khan followed suit scoring the identical one run giving an edge to a Manjurul out-swinger.

Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hussain, who scored 30 off 43 balls, was next to go in the 29th over when he tried to sweep Rafique, only to miss the line giving an easy catch to Mortuza. The Mohammedan stumper had had a happy day with four catches.

Manjurul Islam was the most successful bowler with a haul of four wickets for 77. Rafique and Ashfaque evenly shared four wickets conceding 30 and 65 runs.

In the other match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Agrani Bank managed to score a fighting total against promotees Orient Sporting Club.

Sent into bat, the bankers scored 272 for nine in their share of 80 overs with Pakistani middle-order Shaheen Malik hammering highest 61. Among others, opener Sazzadul Karim and Mofizur Rahman scored 41 runs each.