Tikolo in thick of things
Sports Reporter - dailystarnews.com

Mohammedan Sporting Club grabbed a lifeline after upsetting Victoria Sporting Club's applecart with an exciting two-wicket win in a GrameenPhone Premier Super Six match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Victoria went into their penultimate League match for a win to celebrate their first major domestic title after a long time. But the 'centenary team' of the once reputed outfit could only garner 179 on the board before being all out in 49.4 overs.

They however fought gallantly in defense of their unimpressive total to make the affair a high-voltage drama, where fortune fluctuated from one end to another. Mohammedan could overhaul the target after losing eight wickets and in 49.2 overs.

Mohammedan are now trailing Victoria by two points, and if they can in their final match against Kalabagan they have a realistic chance to go level with Victoria.

Victoria on the other hand will now have to win against Bangladesh Biman in their last match on Friday to clinch the title.

The contest of the two title contenders also had its share of controversy and drama both on and off the field. The match was stopped for about fifteen minutes after angry Mohammedan supporters pelted stones on the field during the second innings.

The trouble started when Mohammedan left-hand batsman Mohammad Rafique was adjudged leg-before while playing and missing a full length delivery from Victoria off-spinner Masudur Rahman Mukul in the 42nd over.

But the worst was to follow when some Mohammedan fans attacked the dejected Victoria team on their way back to the dressing room after the match. Some of them showed the audacity to push and shove national and Victoria captain Khaled Masood in front of police.

The situation took an ugly turn

when Mohammedan officials launched a post-match verbal abuse against what they termed 'biased' umpiring. But a confrontation could be avoided as the rest took the bullies of 'big brothers' in the sports arena casually.

"This is a dreadful incident. We can live with the unruly fans verbally abusing us while we are on the field. But in no circumstance team hoodlums would be allowed to enter the

ground and assault cricketers," said Victoria captain Masood after the match. "I'm really scared about our next match against Biman at Fatullah where the security is not that tight."

While Masood vented his anger about the happenings at the Bangabandhu national Stadium, his counterpart Minhazul Abedin appeared to have engaged in a propaganda blitz regarding the Biman-Victoria match.

"We want to beat Kalabagan to complete hundred per cent success in the Super Six matches. But I'm in doubt about the fairness of the Victoria-Biman match. Biman might intentionally lose the match against Victoria," said Minhaz, alleging that Victoria had earlier played two arranged affairs against Abahani and Kalabagan.

But apart from the sad episode it was a cracker of a match where Steve Tikolo returned to his brilliant self to guide Mohammedan to victory.

The Kenyan star batsman captured three wickets with his off-spin, took two brilliant catches and scored a fluent 58 to give Mohammedan their 12th win from 15 games.

Tikolo sparked a middle-order collapse by dismissing top-scorer Al-Shahriar for 51. He also had Victoria captain Masood for 10 and captured the wicket of Sajjad Ahmed to finish with three for 22 runs in his ten overs.

The macular right-hander then scored a vital half-century after Mohammedan were reduced to two for 23. Tikolo struck five boundaries in his 77-ball knock.

But despite the brilliant show of Tikolo Mohammedan needed yet another outstanding knock from their injured opener Ehsanul Huq after skipper Minhazul Abedin and Sanwar Hossain departed cheaply.

Ehsanul, who twisted his right leg while fielding, returned straight from the treatment table to score an invaluable 35.

Batting at number seven with a runner, the in-form right-hander braved adversity after Victoria exposed the fragile Mohammedan tail. He struck four eye-pleasing boundaries in his 41-ball knock before being run out in a bizarre fashion with Mohammedan needing another four runs for victory.

Ehsan played and missed a delivery from Mukul, which was gathered by wicketkeeper Masood, who promptly took the bails off with Ehsan's runner Habibul Bashar short of the crease.

Bashar had a disappointing day on the field. He made only five. The sad departure of Ehsan gave Victoria a hope for a turnaround. But Mohammedan wicketkeeper Anwar and Taposh grabbed those priceless four runs.

(c) Dailystarnews.com

Super League Scorecards