Bowlers ruled the second day's play in the -three Janakantha Premier Division cricket league matches, propelling title-aspirants Brothers Union, Mohammedan Sporting and Kalabagan Krira Chakra to their first wins in their respective league openers which concluded at different venues yesterday.

However, a consolation for the batsmen, Victoria Sporting’s Shawkat Ali scored the maiden century of the season but in vain.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, brilliant bowling by right-arm seamer Shafiuddin Ahmed guided reigning runners-up Brothers Union to a facile 105-run victory over promotees Sadharan Bima Krira Sangstha.

On the other hand, left-arm spinner and Mohammedan's new captain. Mohammad Rafique. took four wickets to help his side post a huge 148-run win over Wari Club.

hit eleven sweetly-timed hits across the rope.

Among others, Sabbir Khan, who scored 23. was the lone man to cross the 20 mark.

Three Kalabagan bowlers--Pakistani Shahid Saeed, off-spinner Fahim Muntasir and Mukul -- evenly shared six wickets.

In the third match. Kalabagan Krira Chakra handed Victoria Sporting a 59-run defeat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

In the BU-Bima match, national seamer Shafiuddin Ahmed captured five wickets as Brothers, defending a commanding total of 341 in 80 overs, shot out the new comers to the 12-team elite league for 236 with more than five overs to spare.

Shafiuddin. the tall medium-pacer drew the first blood by dismissing three Bima top order batsmen in the first session. He then ripped through the tail to finish with a matchwinning five-wicket haul for 31 runs in 13 overs.

Shafiuddin was ably supported by his skipper and rightarm medium-pacer Khaled Mahmud, who took two wickets for 42 runs from his 15 overs. Off-spinner Sanwar Hossain took one wicket for 34.

Only two Victoria middle order batsmen--Indian Rajinder Singh (79) and S Islam (71) showed some temperament and faced the Brothers attack with some courage, putting on a 171-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Away at the BKSP ground. Mohammedan, defending a not-so-impressive total of 279 in 80 overs, were successful in dis-

missing Wari for only 131 in 57.1 overs, thanks to skipper Mohammad Rafique for his leadly tweakers.

Rafique. who scored 41 runs off 36 balls in the previous day lo help his side reach 279. also shone with the cherry by claiming four wickets for only 25 runs from his tight 12.1 overs.

After new-ball duo Zakir

Hossain and Morshed Ali Khan, who shared three wickets among themselves, ripped through the Wari top order. Rafique took charge to shoot out the tail.

Kenyan all-rounder Maurice Odumbe. who scored highest 88 in the Mohammedan innings, also took two wickets.

At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, an unbeaten century from Pakistan middleorder. Shawkat Ali could not prevent Victoria Sporting from a 59-run defeat at the hands of Kalabagan Krira Chakra.

Shawkat, who got no support from any of his ten batting partners, single-handedly faced the Kalabagan attack and scored an undefeated 114 to helped his side cross the 200 mark. But at the end of the day. the ton proved futile as Victoria could manage only 233 in the stipulated 80 overs with three wickets In hand.

In his more than three-hour stay at the crease. Shawkat faced 197 balls, during which he hit eleven sweetly-timed hits across the rope.

Among others, Sabbir Khan, who scored 23. was the lone man to cross the 20 mark.

Three Kalabagan bowlers--Pakistani Shahid Saeed, off-spinner Fahim Muntasir and Mukul -- evenly shared six wickets.