Relegation League

Faisal flair goes awry

Dailystarnews.com - Sports Reporter

Faisal Hossain hammered an electrifying unbeaten century in a GrameenPhone Premier Relegation match at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday but still his side Uttara Sporting Club failed to avoid a 28-run defeat against City Club in the high scoring drama.
The Comilla left-hander blasted 144 off 139 balls as Uttara finished at 254 for seven in reply to the City Club's commanding 282. It was the highest individual score in the Premier League so far surpassing Mohammedan's Pakistani recruit Taufeeq Omar's unbeaten 134 against Kalabagan in the first round.

A strong on-side player, Faisal led a spectacular recovery operation with Sri Lankan Nilanth Tillekeratne after his side lost four wickets for 16 runs. Together they added 124 runs for the fifth wicket in which Nilanth contributed 57 off 82 balls.

Though the fall of Nilanth exposed a fragile Uttara tail but Faisal entertained the crowd with exciting stroke play. He clobbered 24 runs in the last over of the innings bowled by left-arm spinner Suja Irfan. He smashed three sixes in that eventful over.

The 25-year-old hammered 11 boundaries and five sixes in his undefeated knock.

Earlier, the imposing City Club total was built a superb 88 by national middle-order batsman Tushar Imran.

Tushar shared 106 runs for the fifth wicket with Neyeem after opener Wasim laid the foundation with a 61-ball 58.

The young right-hander struck ten boundaries and a six in his 94-ball knock before being dismissed in the 42nd over, leaving City Club comfortably placed at 234 for five.

Former national right-arm paceman played a little cameo of 20-ball 23.

With this win, City Club raised their tally to 10 points from 12 games. Uttara on the other hand suffered their ninth defeat to stay jointly second from bottom along with Dhanmondi Club with six points.