A Kalabagan choke & a CCS surprise

SHAWON ... 4 for 15

In chase of a target of 263, Kalabagan Krira Chakra were on 238 for three, requiring another 25 runs from last five overs. There was no reason for the Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-led team to panic as Hamilton Masakadza was batting on a hundred-plus, along with the experienced Mehrab Hossain. However, Brothers Union still managed a nine-run victory to secure their fourth win in seven matches as the departure of Mehrab in the first ball of the 46th over saw the Kalabagan batting fall to pieces at BKSP yesterday.

Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad removed Mehrab and then in the next over Mashrafe, the hero of the last match when he hit the fastest hundred in the league, offered a return catch to Asif Hasan. Masakadza followed his skipper in the next over as he became the victim of a run-out but still one could not dismiss the Kalabagan's chances as still to come were the likes of Tanveer Haider, Sharifullah, Abdur Razzak and Dewan Sabbir, who have got the ability to contribute in the late order and the task at hand was not especially difficult. 

In the end Masakadza's 105-ball 111 went in vain as Kalabagan were dismissed for 253 runs in 49.2 overs. His second hundred in the ongoing league took the Zimbabwean batsman, who was scheduled to fly home last night, to the top of the batting chart but the sudden batting collapse ruined his party.  

Earlier, a 126-run second wicket stand between Imrul Kayes and Tushar Imran helped Brothers to put up a challenging total of 262. Seasoned campaigner and Brothers skipper Tushar made 77 off 87 balls with the help of eight fours and a six while Imrul added 67 off 86 balls with five boundaries.

At Fatullah, braving all the off-field adversities, Cricket Coaching School won their first match by beating Victoria Sporting Club by 53 runs in a rain-affected match.

Riding on strong top order batting courtesy of Pinak Ghosh (42), Rajin Saleh (42), Saif Hassan (78) and Salman Hossain (41), CCS scored 259.

In reply Victoria were 72 for two in 10 overs before rain stopped the match and when play resumed Victoria suffered a batting collapse and were teetering at 96 for six before rain again came to halt proceedings. Finally when play restarted a new target of 253 in 35 overs was set as per the Duckworth-Lewis method and Victoria were finally dismissed for 199 runs in 31.1 overs.

18-year old left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed Shawon was the pick of the CCS bowlers as he picked up four wickets for 15 runs in seven overs to be adjudged man of the match.

SCORES IN BRIEF 
BROTHERS UNION: 262 all out in 49.3 overs (Imrul 67, Tushar 77; Sabbir 2-18, Sharifullah 2-28, Razzak 2-56, Masakadza 2-43)
KALABAGAN KC: 253 all out in 49.2 overs (Shadman 30, Masakadza 111, Tasamul 45;  Sadiqur 2-23, Nabil 4-47)
Result: Brothers Union won by nine runs. 
CCS: 259 all out in 49.4 overs (Pinak 42, Rajin 42, Saif 78, Salman 41, Rabbi 4-54, Silva 4-47, Shuvo 2-54)
VICTORIA: 199 all out in 31.1 overs (Mazid 39, Nadif 50; Shawon 4-15, Nasum 2-36)
Result: Cricket Coaching School won by 53 runs (D/L Method)