New hopes

Ehsan · #1 March 23, 2003, 05:40 PM

City finish on a high

Sports Reporter

City Club finished their GrameenPhone Premier Cricket League first round campaign on a winning note with a 111-run whitewash of Uttara Sporting Club at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Opener Faruque Ahmed scored 101 as City Club piled up a huge 315 for seven in the allotted 50 overs after electing to bat.

Faruque slammed 12 fours in his 125-ball knock.

One-down Mazharul Haq and middle-order Nuruzzaman supported Faruque with 61 and 53.

In reply, Uttara, deducted two overs because of their slow over rate while in the field, were restricted to 204 for six in 48 overs.

City Club's ninth win against three defeats helped them finish the first round joint-second with Abahani. Both have collected 50 points, six points short of leaders Victoria Sporting Club.

On the other hand, Uttara suffered their sixth defeat against as many wins. It kept them glued to 32 points, equal with India Road Krira Chakra and Brothers Union.

However, Brothers came back into contention for a super six place with a six-wicket win over Young Pegasus at the BKSP ground in Savar.

Chasing 218 in 50 overs, Brothers reached 222-4 in 45.4 overs.

Openers Shahriar Hossain and Gazi Salauddin laid down the foundation for win scoring 55 and 50.

The win helped Brothers join Uttara and Indira Road Krira Chakra at the crowded fifth position.

Two teams having better net run rate would make it to the Super League. CCDM officials were calculating the matter when this report was being filed.

In the other match of the day, Kalabagan Krira Chakra defeated Surjo Tarun Club by six wickets at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium.

It was Kalabagan's fourth win in 12 matches while Surjo Tarun tasted their tenth defeat.

With yesterday's three matches, first round of the league concluded. The super league, involving top six teams, and the relegation league are likely to start from March 28.

Ehsan · #2 March 23, 2003, 05:44 PM

Now tell me What do you guys think of including Faruque Ahmed , Mazharul Haq, Nuruzzaman, Shahriar Hossain and Gazi Salauddin in our national team??? From this match I see many hopes... for example a good middle order like Nuruzzaman and other players to be included to give our batting some pace...

**Tehsin** · #3 March 24, 2003, 12:44 AM

First of all - ONE MATCH does mean NOTHING. Apart from that:

Mazharul Haq Mridul is the only player that I'd add to the training camp (read - not the national team. I am assuming that we are having a training camp).

Faruque Ahemd - I am assuming it's our former national captain. He has already retired and was never that good. Besides, they are batting against such weak bowlers.

Nuruzzaman - Assuming it's Nayan - deserves a spot with the A team. He has been a good middle order bat for a long time now.

Bidyut - A team again. We need to test him against quality opponents. Not that there'd be much difference between him or the other clowns (Rokon, Hannan et all).

Gazi Salauddin - WHO ? Is that the spinner that takes a few wickets here and there ? Naah, he will keep on playing domestic cricket unless a miracle happens and he goes through extensive training at the Australian cricket academy and becomes a radically imroved player.