Big teams struggled on the opening day of the GrameenPhone Premier Cricket League yesterday.
At the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Victoria Sporting Club launched their title defence with a shaky three-wicket win against the BCB Development Squad.
Set to score a modest 142, the holders crashed to 69-6 before young all-rounder Manjarul rescued Victoria with a dazzling 48.
The southpaw led a spectacular recovery operation with his Khulna mate Mohammad Selim. The pair added 71 runs for the seventh wicket before Manjarul departed leaving his side only two runs away from victory.
Manjarul, the best all-rounder in the National League this year, clubbed six fours and a magnificent six over wide long on in his 67-ball knock.
Wicketkeeper Selim scored an unbeaten 21.
Earlier, the Development Squad faltered after a flying start, losing five wickets for 40 runs. Nazimuddin scored a superb 54 off 84 balls. The young Chittagong opener struck half a dozen boundaries.
It was a near miss for the Development Squad, who are making a guest appearance in the 12-team League as part of their preparation for the World Youth Cup. They lost the close match only due to their inexperience despite
superb spell from right-arm paceman Ziaur.
Ziaur ripped through the toporder to finish with 3 for 25 in his 10 overs.
MSC-INDIRA ROAD
Elsewhere, Mohammedan Sporting Club also registered a hard-fought 13-run win against Indira Road Krira Chakra at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
Sent into bat, Mohammedan scored 209 for eight in 50 overs. Nafis Iqbal celebrated his first outing for the popular Motijheel outfit with a polished 50 off 86 balls. The young right-hander struck six fours.
Nafis apart, veteran left-arm spinner Enamul Hoque was the other notable contributor in an otherwise sorry card. The southpaw scored a vital 43 off 55 balls after Mohammedan were reduced to 116 for five.
Enamul also captured three important wickets as the stage when the promotees appeared running away with the match.
Indira Road were strongly placed 163 for five after opener Kabir gave them a flying start with 74 off 101 balls. He hammered nine boundaries. But they lost their way in the last five overs.
BIMAN-ORIENT SC
While Mohammedan and Victoria survived a scare, Bangladesh Biman collapsed to Orient Sporting Club at the Fatullah Stadium.
Defending a not-so-impressive total of 205-8, the national flag carrier surrendered to a stubborn Rashed Hanif.
The Pakistani left-hander almost single handedly took Orient to
victory with a 99-ball 85.
The younger brother of former Pakistan International Aamir Hanif struck six boundaries and three sixes in his enterprising knock that came to end in the last over with Orient needing three runs.
SCOREBOARDS
Scoreboards of the three Grameen-Phone Premier Cricket League matches played at different city venues yesterday:
Victoria vs Development Squad
Venue: BNS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
Sahagir b Saiful 2
Nayeem run out 26
Nazimuddin b Sabbir 54
Kafi c Azam b Manjarul 1
Raid st Azam b Sabbir 12
Arafat run out 1
Ashique lbw b Saiful 12
Rubayat c Azam b Nayeem 5
Shafaq c Rahman b Nayeem 0
Ziaur c & b Manjarul 15
Enamul not out 0
Extras: (b-2, lb-7, w-4) 13
Total: (All out in 49.1 overs) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-52, 3-62, 4-98, 5-101, 6-106, 7-120, 8-120, 9-139.
Bowler O M R W
Saiful 7.1 4 8 2
Nayan 10 1 29 0
Manjarul 10 0 21 2
Sabbir 10 3 25 2
Razzak 8 0 32 0
W Nayeem 4 0 17 2
VICTORIA SC
Parvez c Sahagir b Ziaur 10
Rafiqul b Ziaur 6
Azam b Ziaur 7
W Nayeem b Enamul 13
Nayan c Riyad b Rubayat 18
Anis b Rubayat 3
Selim not out 21
Manjarul run out 48
Sabbir not out 4
Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-9, nb-3) 17
Total: (For 7 wkts in 41.5 overs) 144 Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-26, 3-34, 457, 5-68, 6-69, 7-140
Bowler O M R W
Shafaq 8.5 1 38 0
Ziaur 10 3 25 3
Enamul 10 1 26 1
Rubayat 6 0 14 2
Arafat 3 0 14 0
Ashique 2 0 19 0
Nayeem 2 0 7 0
Result: Victoria SC won by 3 wickets.
Mohammedan SC vs Indira Road KC
Venue: DCS
MOHAMMEDAN SC
Javed lbw b Sanjay 15
Nafis b Kabir 52
Anwar run out 5
Aftab run out 33
Minhazul c Kalim b Imran 8
Fahim run out 16
Enamul run out 43
Yasir run out 6
Arif not out 15
Ashiqur not out 11
Extras: (b-1, w-4) 5
Total: (For 8 wickets in 50 overs) 209
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-53, 3-97, 4113, 5-116, 6-142, 7-152, 8-190
Bowler O M R W
Sanjay 10 1 50 1
Jahangir 7 2 19 0
Raihan 9 0 38 0
Arafat 8 1 39 0
Imran 7 1 23 1
Kabir 9 0 39 1
INDIRA ROAD KC
Kabir c Nafis b Arif 74
Bappi lbw b Enamul 9
Kalim c Enamul c Arif 28
Kabi run out 0
Kiron c & b Monir 33
Arafat b Monir 30
Jahangir lbw b Fahim 5
Kuntal c Nafis b Enamul 3
Raihan lbw b Enamul 1
Sanjay b Monir 0
Imran not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-6, nb-1, w-4) 12
Total: (All out in 49.5 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-116, 3-116, 4-131, 5-163, 6-174, 7-192, 8-194, 9-195
Bowler O M R W
Ashiqur 10 0 41 0
Monir 8.5 0 35 3
Fahim 10 1 35 1
Enamul 10 1 25 3
Arif 10 0 41 2
Minhazul 1 0 12 0
Result: Mohammedan SC won by 13 runs.
Bangladesh Biman vs Orient SC
Venue: Fatullah Stadium
BIMAN
Athar b Kamal 0
Rashedul b Lucky 40
Jahangir b Lucky 1
Aminul c Tapu b Saju 27
Hasanuzzaman b Lucky 2
Ziaur run out 43
Hasan b Tapu 22
Mosaddek b Tapu 38
Mortuza not out 10
Extras: (b-2, lb-6, nb-3, w-11) 22
Total: (For 8 wickets in 50 overs) 205
Fall of wickets: 1/1, 2-25, 3-59, 4-63, 5-102, 6-151, 7-159, 8-205
Bowler O M R W
Lucky 10 4 31 3
Kamal 10 0 53 1
Saju 10 0 40 1
Jewel 8 0 24 0
Tapu 9 2 27 2
Rashed 3 0 22 0
ORIENT SC
Masum b Anis 8
Rabby run out 25
Sajat run out 16
Jewel c hasan b Ziaur 2
Rashed c Aminul b Bhola 85
Nadim c Jahangir b Hasan 25
Tapu run out 4
Kamal not out 4
Saju not out 2
Extras: (lb-8, w-7) 15
Total: (For 8 wickets in 50 overs) 206
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-45, 3-49, 4-
60, 5-135, 6-175, 7-192, 8-201
Bowler O M R W
Bhola 10 1 36 1
Anis 10 1 31 2
Athar 10 2 24 0
Ziaur 9 1 32 1
Mosaddek 4 0 29 0
Hasan 7 0 45 1
Result: Orient SC won by 2 wickets.