Mohammedan Sporting Club got their act together on Monday to pull themselves out of the rut to a morale-boosting eight-wicket win over Surjo Tarun Club in a Janakantha Premier Division Super League match at the Dhaka Stadium.

After three consecutive demoralising defeats at the hands of Kalabagan. Abahani and Bangladesh Biman. the much-needed victory was a welcome relief for Mohammedans. The popular Motljheel outfit, chasing a modest Suijo Tarun total of 162 In the stipulated 50 overs, rattled up tne winning run for the loss of two wickets.

Thanks to a disciplined 95-run partnership for the undefeated third wicket between skipper Aminul Islam an inform opener Parvez, Mo-harnmedans reached 164 in 41.4 overs. Aminul scored an unbeaten 56 off 76 balls, embellished with half a dozen fours, while Parvez scored a defiant 55 in his undefeated 112-ball vigil at the crease. The young righthander struck a quartet of fours in his chanceless innings.

With this win Mohammedans. not only returned to the championship fray in the most comprehensive fashion but with 20 points, also joined their arch-rivals Abahani atop the table. But holders Abahani have a game in hand against Mohammedans' 13 league engagements.

Mohammedans went into their second match of the six-team Super league with an uneasy calm looming large on their skipper Aminul Islam, who earned a bizarre reputation last year by losing eight matches.

With his Job on the line. Aminul rose to the occasion to lead his side from the front for a virtual cake-walk in a low-scoring affair. The dapper all-

rounder won a good toss in the morning and nis decision to chase a cursory target immedi-

ately bore fruit when Surjo Tarun lost half their wickets for only 51 runs on the board.

National right-arm seamer Haslbul made the early inroads for the winners by dismissing Surjo Tarun skipper Javed Omar for two. The diminutive right-hander paid the penalty for playing across the line and was adjudged leg before, leaving his side at 15 for one in 4.4 overs.

Mohammedans early delight turned into prolonged celebra-

tion when Pakistani Nadim Younus, the usual mainstay of the Surjo Tarun batting, departed at the same score In a terrible mix-up with former national opener Zahid Razzak.

Nadim, on 12 off 16 balls, ran for a regulation single after playing Jahangir Talukder to the cover-point. But. much to the disbelief of the hard-hitting Pakistan right-hander. Zahid Razzak remained glued to the non-striker’s end only as a graphic potrayal of a cold-war between the two batsmen. The obvious outcome was the sad departure of Nadim Younus. who was stranded in the middle when wicketkeeper Nasir dislodged the bails after an accurate throw from Shahed Mehmud.

After two quick dismissals, Zahid and Pakistani Shahid Saeed tried to steady the rocking boat, putting on 30 runs for the third wicket. But once Zahid was trapped in front of the wicket off left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique, Surjo Tarun slipped to a precarious 51 for five in 16.1 overs from where they were never to recover.

Ehsan with a defiant 47 and Tuhin, who chipped in with 26. tried again to mend the damage producing 41 runs for the sixth wicket. But Tarun s hopes of offering a challenging total went up in smoke due to some controlled bowling from Rafique. who finished with three for 25.

He was ably supported by his captain Aminul and an experienced Minhazul Abedin. Aminul with his off-spin claimed two wickets for 22 in his 9.4 overs, including four remaining deliveries of leftarm seamer Jahangir Talukder. who withdrew from the attack after pulling a calf-muscle. Minhazul gave away 39 runs for his two scalps.