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Mushfiq takes them home

Sports Reporter


All-rounder Mushfiqur Rahman played a typically gutsy innings which eventually handed Victoria Sporting club their second consecutive Premier Division cricket title at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

On the fourth and final day of the Super League clash, Mushfiq, the Rajshahi all-rounder, who missed the early part of the league due to serious ankle injury, held Mohammedan at bay for two sessions (252 minutes) to ensure a draw which was enough for the Centenary side to record their third ever League honour with a match in hand.

With a target to either win the match by scoring 270 or bat out the 80 overs remaining in the game, Victoria were shaken by a desperate Mohammedan. Needing a victory at any cost, Mohammedan had the perfect start when they sent back Victoria's prolific Pakistani opener Waseem Nayeem in the third over of their second innings. Nayeem was caught by Aftab off paceman Monir at square leg. Mohammedan hopes were further lifted when they reduced Victoria to 35 for three just after lunch.

But Mushfiq led the consolidation charge. Playing like a wall, he defied all that the Mohammedan bowlers could throw at him. He received good support from captain Azam Iqbal (28) and middle-order Anisur Rahman (33 not out) along the way.

Mushfiq and Anis put on a decisive 62-run partnership for the unbeaten seventh wicket as Victoria reached 174 for six before Mohammedan captain Minhazul Abedin decided to throw in the towel with six balls remaining.


Mushfiq, who has been rewarded with an opportunity to meet new national coach Dav Whatmore on May 14 as one of the 21 leading cricketers of the country, smote ten boundaries in his 193-ball innings.


Mohammedan tried their best to force the title issue into the final day of the league and with their opponents reeling at 112 for six, they couldn't be blamed for fancying a win. But with Mushfiq offering stubborn resistance the tail never got exposed. They didn't help their cause either when the skipper himself dropped a sharp chance at leg slip to catch Mushfiq when he was on 26. In a last ditch attempt, Minhazul even put nine men in the slips for the last few overs of the day but it was just not going to be Mohammedan's day.


Earlier, Mohammedan, resuming the final day morning on 201 for 5 in 71 overs, batted for another eight overs in the first session before they declared their second innings on 238 for 8. The extra overs consumed proved significant for the outcome of the match and even Minhazul admitted later that that precious half-an hour's batting minimised their chances of bowling Victoria out

With the draw, Victoria raised their tally to 74 points from 16 matches. Mohammedan on the other hand finished their season with 72 points from 17 matches.


Victoria will now face City Club in their last match that will start at the Bangabandhu National Stadium from Wednesday.