The country's leading cellular operators looked like the first team to advance to the last four from Group X after their five-wicket win against Partex Group on Monday. But the defeat against Bashundhara by a huge margin now left them in the wilderness.

They will now pray for a repeat act by Bashundhara in their last match against Partex on Friday for a place in the final four.

Set to score 233 for victory, GrameenPhone were bundled out for 173 in 46.2 overs despite a healthy contribution from their star Indian recruit Sanjay Bangar.

The Indian Test discard scored 47 before hurrying off the ground to catch the evening flight back home. But his effort was not enough for GrameenPhone to avoid a huge defeat as contributions from other batsmen were few and far between.

While Bangar was a star disappointment for the mobile phone side, his unheralded compatriot Sandeep Sharma boosted Bashun-dhara's chances to book a seat in the semifinals of the first-ever tournament for the corporate houses with a fluent half-century.

Sharma, who flew into the capital after an impressive show in Chittagong, hit 60 off 80 balls while former Bangladesh captain Naimur Rahman hammered 54 off 74 balls in Bashundhara's fighting total.

Sharma hit seven boundaries and a six in his flawless innings. Naimur's second half-century in the meet featured four boundaries.

Discarded national opener Al-Shahriar contributed 30 in a second wicket stand of 64 runs with Sharma. Skipper Akram Khan scored 32.

Veteran slow left-arm spinner Enamul Haq wielded his willow for an 18-ball 22 during the final stage of the innings.

Young left-arm spinner Tamim Bashir was the pick of the GrameenPhone bowlers with three wickets for 30 from 9.2 overs while left-arm pacer Monjurul Islam captured 2-16 from a very tight 8-over spell and Enamul Haq Jr took two for 50. Bangar's one wicket cost him 56 runs from seven overs.

GrameenPhone's chase never took off once promising right-arm seamer Mohammad Shahjada removed in-form opener Anisul Hakim (16) and his partner Jewel Hossain (6) with 48 runs on the board.

Bangar and captain Tushar Imran tried to steady the innings in the middle but GrameenPhone effectively lost their way when Tushar (10) offered a simple catch to Naimur at square-leg off left-arm spinner Saifullah Khan Jem, who eventually finished with four for 26.

Off-spinner Naimur Rahman dealt the vital blow when he bowled Bangar round the legs to reduce GrameenPhone to 89-4. Bangar hit five fours and a six.