The Mash bash at Fatullah

When Mashrafe Bin Mortaza arrived at the crease for Kalabagan Krira Chakra (KKC) yesterday his side were poised at a rather uncomfortable 169 for four in 36 overs.

Mashrafe, however changed the scenario with a magical effort. He not only scored his first List A century but also the fastest among Bangladeshis in this format. He hammered 11 sixes, the second-highest by a batsman in List-A cricket in Bangladesh and the highest by a batsman in the Dhaka Premier League.

His 100, which came off 50 balls, completely reversed the momentum of the game and almost single-handedly destroyed the Mahmudullah Riyad-led Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.

The first ball he faced was a wide. The second was a four and the third was a six. He reached his half-century in the 44th over off 35 balls with the team score poised at 238 for five. 

If Mahmudullah and Co were shocked by Mashrafe's half-century, they were probably devastated by what happened in the overs that followed.

After reaching his 50, the braveheart cricketer completely let go and started smacking sixes -- a few over mid-wicket, a few over long-on -- almost at will. He just needed 15 balls to score his next 50 runs.

He hit medium-pacer Muktar Ali for three sixes in the 46th over and then hammered four maximums against left-arm spinner Wahidul Alam in the 48th, the last of which brought up his century. He got out off his very next ball, to pacer Shafiul Islam in the 49th over for 104, and left the field amidst handshakes and hugs from the Sheikh Jamal fielders.

His knock helped Kalabagan reach 316. The pressure turned out to be too much for Sheikh Jamal and they were bundled out for 295, although they did explode at the end with Zabid Hossain and Wahidul adding 53 runs in the last three overs. 

A century from Shahriar Nafees at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur helped Brothers Union post a 38-run victory over Cricket Coaching School (CCS). Nafees hit 14 fours and five sixes in his 147-ball 134. While the margin seems comfortable on the scorecard, it was a lot closer than it seemed. Chasing 253, CCS were cruising at 164 for 2 in 35 overs. Saif Hassan and Salman Hossain scored half-centuries and shared a 129-run stand for the third wicket. However, once Salman was dismissed for 68, CCS crumbled. They lost their last eight wickets for just 51 runs and were bundled out for just 215.

At the BKSP, Shamsur Rahman's unbeaten 95 led Gazi Group Cricketers to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Kalabagan Cricket Academy. Kalabagan were bowled out for 186 in 47.3 overs courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Alok Kapali. After the exchange, Gazi Group raced home in 40.2 overs.

Shahriar Nafees (L) scored 134 while Alok Kapali scalped a five-wicket haul. Photos: Star

SCORES IN BRIEF 
KALABAGAN KRIRA CHAKRA: 316 for 7 (Mashrafe 104, Jashimuddin 64, Masakadza 45; Gazi 2-39, Riyad 2-56) 
SHEIKH JAMAL DC: 295 all out in 50 overs (Zabid 52 not out, Muktar 51, Wahidul 49, Gazi 47; Masakadza 4-37, Tanveer 1-25, Dewan 1-35, Mashrafe 1-42)
Result: Kalabagan Krira Chakra won by 21 runs. 
BROTHERS UNION: 253 for 6 (Nafees 134, Imrul 49; Shawon 4-45, Mehrab 1-39) 
CRICKET COACHING SCHOOL: 215 all out in 47.2 overs (Saif 86, Salman 68; Milind 2-27, Asif 2-34, Nabil 2-53)
Result: Brothers Union won by 38 runs. 
KALABAGAN CRICKET ACADEMY: 186 all out in 47.3 overs (Jatin 44, Mahmudul 41; Kapali 5-44, Saeed 2-27) 
GAZI GROUP CRICKETERS: 187 for 2 in 40.2 overs (Shamsur 95 not out, Mahedi 39; Mehedi 1-31, Jatin 1-42)
Result: Gazi Group Cricketers won by eight wickets.