Abahani survive intense finish

Prior to yesterday, Abahani skipper Tamim Iqbal had repeatedly spoken about the importance of Shakib Al Hasan and how crucial his return to the Dhaka Premier League would be for the side.

As Tamim and a number of others expected, Shakib put in a commendable all-round performance to lead Abahani to a crucial three-wicket win over Prime Doleshwar at the BKSP yesterday.

Shakib scalped a wicket followed by a cautious 45 with the bat before young Mosaddek Hossain sealed the intense chase with a game-changing half-century.

Chasing 192 in a match that was reduced to 28 overs-a-side due to the morning showers, Abahani required eleven runs off the last over with four wickets in hand.

That equation came down to ten runs off the last three balls, courtesy of some defiant bowling from Forhad Reza. However, Mosaddek managed to steal a double off the fourth ball, smacked a gut-wrenching six off the fifth and followed up with a brilliant boundary through covers off the last ball to take Abahani home. He ended up scoring 57 off 35 balls.

The brilliant chase though was marred by a run-out controversy in the last over.

In the fourth ball of the last over, Mosaddek drove Forhad to the cover fielder. It ideally should have been just a single, however Mosaddek was keen on a second.

However, there was plenty of controversy just before that as an apparent run-out against his batting partner Taskin Ahmed was waived off by the leg umpire even though it appeared that his bat was not grounded when the bails were taken off. PHOTOS: FIROZ AHMED

His partner, Taskin Ahmed, was a little late to react. Forhad received the ball and dived to take off the bails. It seemed as though Taskin was well short of the crease and the Doleshwar players even started celebrating.

However, much to their surprise, leg umpire Rezwan Parvez decided not to give it out.

Since domestic matches are not officially recorded, umpires are forced to take decisions like these on the ground.

Recordings and photographs captured by the media though suggested that the umpire's decision was questionable as the batsman's bat was seemingly in the air when the bails were dislodged.

The issue though can't take anything away from the manner in which Mosaddek batted.

He arrived at the crease after Shakib's departure, with Abahani struggling at 119 for 4 and needing 73 runs off 54 balls. While trying to build a partnership, he then lost Rajat Bhatia.

Meanwhile Shakib Al Hasan made an imperious return to the league with a fine all-round performance, smashing 45 and picking up a wicket. PHOTOS: FIROZ AHMED

Mosaddek was stuck with the tail and required 46 off 30 balls. However, he didn't back out. He began the charge by hitting Nasir Hossain for a six down the ground off the last ball off the 24th over. Two overs later he sweetly timed Al-Amin Hossain for two consecutive fours and then finished it off brilliantly in the last over.

Earlier, a brilliant 72 from Nasir Hossain and some poor fielding from Abahani -- which saw them drop four catches -- led Doleshwar to 191 in 28 overs. Doleshwar were struggling at 58 for 4 after 11 overs, but Nasir's calm half-century, along with Sanjamul Islam's 40, turned the tide in their favour.

As a result of the win, Abahani moved to fourth spot with ten points and greatly increased their chances of making it to the Super League. Doleshwar remain second with 12 points.

The day's other games were pushed to the reserve day due to the incessant rainfall. The game between Cricket Coaching School and Mohammedan at Fatullah was reduced to 25 overs. Salman Hossain scored a half-century to lead CCS to 149. Mohammedan will have to chase that total today.

At Mirpur, Kalabagan Cricket Academy were bundled out for 89 runs in a 21-over game. Prime Bank Cricket Club will have to chase the target today.

SCORES IN BRIEF 
PRIME DOLESHWAR V ABAHAN
PRIME DOLESHWAR SC: 191 for 7 in 28 overs (Raqibul 25, Nasir 72, Sunzamul 40; Taskin 2-53, Shakib 1-31, Saqlain 1-16, Mossadek 1-12)
ABAHANI: 194 for 7 in 28 overs (Tamim 10, Shanto 39, Shakib 45, Mossadek 57 not out; Al Amin 2-36, Forhad 2-45)
Result: Abahani won by 3 wkts.
KALABAGAN CA V PRIME BANK CC
KALABAGAN CA:  89 all out in 21 overs (Mehedi 19, Sukkur 12, Taposh 12; Jayasuria 1-12, Azim 3-23, Monir 3-12) v 
PRIME BANK CC
CCS V Mohammedan        
Cricket Coaching School: 149 all out in 24.5 overs (Salman 58, Amit 24, Uttam 23 not out; Habibur 2-23, Ariful 3-29)
MOHAMMEDAN SC:  13 for 0 (Ezaz 12 not out, Naeem 1 not out; Nasum 6-0, Saleh 0-7)