Rupganj lose the plot

When you witness a game in which a team defends a total as small as 135, you usually expect the captains and the players of the teams to talk about how difficult the wicket or the conditions were.

However, Legends of Rupganj skipper Mosharraf Hossain, whose side was bundled out for 84 while chasing Mohammedan's 135, gave a shocker of a reply when asked about the defeat.

“This was a wicket on which batsmen ideally would have scored 300,” a frustrated Mosharraf blurted while speaking to The Daily Star after the match yesterday.

“I don't know what to say about my batsmen. What can you say when your batsmen try to pull half-volleys? I feel that cricketers who play outside [non-professional cricketers] would have played much better on this wicket. It was a completely flat wicket with absolutely nothing on it. They [Mohammedan] put in a bad batting performance. But we were worse,” added the skipper, who top-scored for his side with a 60-ball 22.

Mosharraf's teammate, veteran pacer Mohammad Sharif, echoed his sentiment. “Their spinners got most of the wickets. Believe me when I say that there was no turn at all. There was a bit of movement in the morning when they batted. But when we came to the crease it was much better to bat on and we still failed,” said Sharif.

Asif Hasan's four for 19 helped restrict Mohammedan to 135 in 39.4 overs. After the exchange, Taijul Islam ran through Rupganj's batting order with figures of six for 24. Rupganj lasted for just 32.4 overs.

The day's other game at the BKSP, between Kalabagan Krira Chakra and Abahani, was also a low-scoring one. However, there were no shockers here as Abahani raced to their target of 157 in 30.2 overs and six wickets in hand. Young Saif Hasan scored 61, while Mohammad Mithun posted an unbeaten 30 to lead the chase.

Earlier, Shuvagata Hom had taken four wickets to help bundle Kalabagan out for 156 in 45.5 overs.

The Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah witnessed the battle of the two Primes with Prime Doleshwar coming out on top by seven wickets. Batting first, Prime Bank Cricket Club were bowled out for 180 in 49.5 overs with Zakir Hasan scoring 52. Shahriar Nafees's unbeaten 78 and Marshall Ayub's 62 led Doleshwar home in 45.2 overs.