Mohammedan Sporting Club kept alive their outside chance of retaining the title when they defeated Bangladesh Biman by 38 runs in a crucial GrameenPhone Premier Super Six match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Mohammedan became the unlikely victors in the first match after a week's break due to inclement weather when the holders defended 226 in the 43-over contest. The match was curtailed because of the delayed start for overnight rain.

Biman, in their chase, were bowled out for 188 in 37.1 overs.

The result also put an end to Biman's chase for the coveted title. They can now only hope for giving a last minute twist to the battle for glory that tilts towards Victoria Sporting Club, who needed a victory against Mohammedan in their penultimate match on Tuesday to celebrate a rare success.

Victoria is maintaining a lead of four points from second-placed Mohammedan with two more games in hand.

Mohammedan has a realistic chance to finish on equal points with the 'centenary team' of Victoria. In that case the popular Motijheel outfit should have to win their next two games and then wait for the outcome of the last Super Six match between Victoria and Biman.

Only a day before Mohammedan were bowled out for 202 against the same team but Biman were denied to chase that relatively easy target by the unfriendly rain.

The victory however exacted a sweet revenge for Mohammedan, who lost the first round battle against Biman by four wickets.

Bangladesh Biman appeared to be a better side to win the do-or-die battle until a decisive runout of Ziaur Rashid changed the complexion of the game. The national airliners were eventually bowled out for 188 with 5.5 overs to spare.

Mohammedan skipper Minhazul Abedin returned to action after missing the previous game due to hamstring injury with a superb 56. The experienced right-hander clubbed five boundaries in his 47-ball knock.

Minhaz featured in two vital stands after Mohammedan got off to a horrible start, losing their first three wickets for 13 runs.

He put on 63 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Rafique, who racked up 44 off 38 balls. The left-arm spinner struck two sixes against former national left-arm paceman Anisur Rahman and three boundaries.

Back in form Sanwar also chipped in with 46 and Habibul Bashar scored 40.

But Mohammedan's star Kenyan recruit Steve Tikolo failed again scoring a first-ball duck. But the Kenyan made amends with the ball, claiming three wickets for 28 runs.

Biman were however only to be blamed for capitulating after Imran Farhat gave them a flying start. The Pakistani left-hander struck a blazing 44 off 32 balls before being bowled by paceman Taposh Baishya.

When the southpaw departed, Biman had a task in hand to score a little more than four runs per over. Khaled Mahmud took the charge despite a mini-collapse that saw Aminul Islam and Hasanuzzaman returning to the dressing room in quick succession.

Known for his reputation as a crisis man, Mahmud scored a run-a-ball 44 to carry Biman in sight of victory. But once Ziaur was run out in a terrible mix-up while refusing a second run, which was there for the taking, the match turned on its head.

Fall of wicket:
Mohammedan: 1-6 (Seezan, 2.1 ov), 2-13 (RH Sumon, 4.1 ov), 3-13 (Tikolo, 4.2 ov), 4-88 (HB Sumon, 22.4 ov), 5-103 (Sanwar, 26.2 ov), 6-166 (Rafique, 34.4 ov), 7-196 (Shabbirn, 38.4 ov), 8-222 (Nannu, 42.2 ov), 9-224 (Tapash, 42.5 ov).
Biman: 1-15 (Aftab, 3.3 ov), 2-24 (Faruk, 4.3 ov), 3-72 (Imran, 10.3 ov), 4-95 (Hasan, 15.4 ov), 5-111 (Sajjad, 21.2 ov), 6-120 (Bulbul, 23.6 ov), 7-156 (Rupom, 30.4 ov), 8-168 (Razzaq, 33.3 ov), 9-188 (Anisur, 36.6 ov), 10-188 (Shujon, 37.1 ov).

Best viewed with 800x640/Internet Explorer resolution