Victoria finished ahead

Dailystarnews.com - Sports Reporter

In a refreshing twist to the tradition Victoria Sporting Club yesterday finished ahead in the first round of the Grameen-Phone Premier League, leaving the two popular outfits Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani Krira Chakra battle for the third place.

The 'centenary team' of Victoria did half the job done in their pursuit for the coveted League title when they thumped down a nine-wicket defeat on Surjo Tarun Club to end the first phase with ten wins against a defeat at the hands of Bangladesh Biman.

Bangladesh Biman also recorded a comprehensive 45-run victory over Uttara Sporting Club at the BKSP ground in Savar to finish second in the 12-team first round.

While Victoria and Biman stamped their supremacy ahead of the final round, Young Pegasus surprised all by surging into the Super Six. The promotees defeated a big-spending City Club by 31 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium to make a dream passage into the final phase as the last team by virtue of having better run-rate. They finished on equal points with traditional giants Brother Union.

The topsy-turvy League is also destined to write off the title chase for either of Mohammedan and Abahani even before appearing in the first Super League match.

Trailing Victoria by six points, both defending champions Mohammedan and their arch-rivals Abahani need a win at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today to keep their title hopes alive.

However, Victoria produced yet another professional show to roll up a youthful Surjo Tarun Club Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, Surjo Tarun could only manage 171 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs.

Victoria's little known Pakistani recruit Gauhar Ali rocked the Tarun top-order with three quick wickets including the prize scalps of in-from Hannan Sarker and Mazharul Huq to effectively dash the hopes of a big score. Only experienced right-hander Selim Shahed scored a gritty 52 off 107 balls.

Victoria toppled the modest total in only 32.4 overs with opener Parvez hammering an unbeaten 78 off 101 balls that included a dozen fours.

Parvez shared 117 runs for the first wicket with his more illustrious partner Al-Shahriar. The national opener scored a cracking 68 off 67 balls. Al-Shahriar clubbed nine boundaries and a six in his polished knock.

Jahangir Alam with an unbeaten 27 made sure Victoria win the match without further damage.

MAHMUD PILOT OF BIMAN

Experienced national all-rounder Khaled Mahmud kept up his rich vein of form as Bangladesh Biman celebrated their ninth win at the expense of a lowly Uttara Sporting Club.

Mahmud scored a blazing unbeaten 69 off 47 balls to guide the national airline outfit to a fighting 255 for seven in 50 overs.

The gutsy right-hander set the field afire after Aminul Islam and Hasanuzzaman laid the foundation putting on 105 runs for the fourth wicket. Aminul scored a disciplined 50 off 75 balls and Hasanuzzaman top-scored with 73 off 94 balls.

They led the recovery operation after Biman were reduced to 38 for three in 10.5 overs.

Mahmud struck three boundaries and four massive sixes in his cracking knock.

The pocket dynamo then captured three wickets for 33 runs with his military medium pace to dismiss Uttara for 210 in 46.4 overs.

Uttara threw caution to the wind when opener Mahfuz and Dickens took the score to 141 in 29 overs. But once Mahfuz departed for 70 off 101 balls Uttara lost the way completely.

Dickens fought a lost battle with 58 off 76 balls.

PEGASUS VS CITY CLUB

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Young Pegasus rode on a brilliant unbeaten half-century from Rozel to record their sixth win.

Rozel scored a captain's knock of 75 as Pegasus, sent into bat, made 240 for five in 50 overs. It was Rozel's third fifty. He struck three boundaries and two sixes in his match-winning knock.

He also featured in a vital 44-run from the last five overs in company of Uzzal, who scored a 51-ball 34.

City Club, in their chase, were all out for 209 in 47.3 overs despite a superb 66 from Tushar Imran.