Mohammedan Sporting defeated archrival Abahani Ltd. in a head-to-head clash today in BNS ground. Much was expected from the supporters from both sides and the gallery seemed more vibrant than most of the days. Mohammedan has formed a very strong team this year including their foreign recruits Steve Tikolo and Javed Hayat.

Abahani Ltd. won the toss and sent their opponent to bat first. The decision appeared to be in favor of Mohammedan and they squeezed out the benefit through Steve Tikolo and Sanwar Hossain who batted pressure-free with quite an aggressive mood.

Abahani pacers put Mohammedan into pressure when they took three wickets in quick succession within 55 runs. The mediocre seam bowlers from Abahani seemed to be unplayable in a perfect batting track. The fretting marks from Mohammedan skipper disappeared soon when Tikolo and Sanwar began to handle the opponent assault with quite ease and quenched their threats gradually. Tikolo blasted 148 in just 138 balls where Sanwar made a supportive 73. It was absolutely thrilling to watch Tikolo taming the bowlers and bashed them to the rope over and over again. The partnership added 183 runs that turned the table to Mohammedan's side. After fifty over Mohammedan pulled off 301 for the loss of 9 wickets. Ahsanullah Hasan, though expensive, picked up 4 for 64.

Targeting 302 to get a victory, the Abahani openers started to batter the seam bowlers from the very beginning, but mistimed some good length balls and threw their wickets away. In the 18th over they reached to 113 but already lost four of the specialist batsmen. Again it became evident that major teams are utmost depending upon their hired players as anchors and do not rely on the local stars. Tareq Javed made the second century of the day(102 n.o.) to give some solace to their supporters. The Abahani wickets fell at regular intervals though they strived to maintain a positive run-rate all through.

Taposh Baiso, from Sylhet, secured 4 for 39 and Mustadir Litu captured 2 for 37 to tame the onslaught of the rival batsmen.

Steve Tikolo was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his strutting hundred teeming with boundaries and it was presumed by everyone long before it was declared.

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