Salim Elahi scored a superb century In the Janakantha Premier Division League as Kalaba*

gan climbed into the second position after defeating Surjo Tarun Club by 56 runs in a Super League match at the Bangabananu National Stadium yesterday.

The discarded Pakistani opener hammered a swashbuckling 119, his second ton in the League, as Kalabagan recovered from a shaky start to pile on a massive 263 for eight In a reduced 47-over-a-slde contest. Tarun, in their chase, were all out for 207 with four overs to go.

The elegant right-hander produced 149 runs for the fourth wicket with compatriot Tariq Mehmud after Kalabagan were reduced to 38 for three in 10.3 overs. Tariq hammered an equally impressive 87-ball 80 balls that included seven fours and a couple of huge sixes.

Salim matched the brilliance of his elder brother Zahoor. who is now playing In England, with a magnificent 150 not out against Victoria. The younger Elahi reached his second hundred off 115 balls and with the help of seven sweetly-timed fours and a massive six.

He was eventually out In the 45th over, but not before Kalabagan reached a commanding 247 for five Former national left-arm seamer Anisur Rahman had the

prolific batsman clean bowled to return with three for 42 in his ten overs.

But apart from a combative Anis and left-arm spinner Suja Erfan. who finished with two for 49. the other Tarun bowlers Including Indian off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan came in for punishment from the marauding Pakistani pair.

While the Pakistani power for an umpteenth time provided the thrust in Kalabagan batting, veteran right-arm seamer Salful Islam became the unlikely hero for the leviathans in the domestic cricket with a four-wicket haul.

Salful made the early-in-roads when he had young opener Ashraful caught by Ripon for 15. A restless Ashraful looked Impressive with his stroke-making, but paid the penalty for not being selective in his shots.

Surjo Tarun hopes revolved round the right-left combination of Al-Shahrlar and Pakistani Akhter Sarfraz. Together they put on 54 runs for the third wicket But Just when It appeared that Surjo Tarun was taking the match away from Kalabagan. Al-Shahrlar threw away his wicket.

The temperamental righthander. on 42 off 47 balls, committed a criminal offence when hr lofted off-spinner Rl]xm into the wailing hands of

Froni page 13

Harun at long-otf

Tarun suffered yet another severe blow when Sarfraz, on 48. limped off the ground after suffering cramp. He however returned after skipper Minhazul departed for 33. but played only few dot balls before being clean bowled by Saiful.

The match finally swung Kalabagan s way when Khaled Masood was spectacularly caught by off-spinner Fahim Muntasir.’who dived full length to his left to pluck the ball inches off the ground. Fahim also mopped up the Tarun tail to finish with two for 43 in hi** 10 overs.

It was Kalabagans tenth victory from 13 games. The are now ' trailing title-bound Abahani Krira Chakra by six points.

On the other hand. It was Surjo Tarun s fifth defeat and second in a row in the six-team Super League