Super League starts with uncertainty
Sonargaon win, two matches unfinished
Sports Reporter
The Kai-Altech Premier Cricket League plunged into uncertainty on its resumption after three months as inclement weather and player crisis hit the Super League yesterday.Only one match was completed on the opening day of the second phase with Sonargaon Cricketers snatching a one-wicket victory in a rain-interrupted match against Victoria Sporting Club. Title contenders Abahani and Mohammedan both were kept waiting as their unfinished games, weather and the recent crisis permitting, will restart today. With a cyclone expected to hit the coastal belts of the country early this morning, the fate of the two games looked doubtful. However, leaders Abahani and bottom-table Old DOHS, who were pitted against each other at the Fatullah Stadium, faced another problem with no possible solution but postponing the super league for an indefinite period. Abahani vice-captain Tushar Imran -- who scored a 48-ball 46 in the side's 224 all out in 49.2 overs after electing to bat -- and DOHS batsman Mehrab Hossain both got surprise calls for the national team's third and final one-day international against India slated for today in Chittagong as cover for the injury-plagued Tigers. Mehrab was yet to bat for DOHS, who were 18 without loss after four overs when rain stopped play. He and Tushar along with Rajin Saleh left Dhaka for the port city last night. Abahani, who lost their last five wickets in the space of 12 runs and 20 deliveries, fielded Sri Lankan international Upul Chandana, who topscored 60 off 65 balls, while DOHS had Kenyan ace Steve Tikolo in their line-up. The Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) could not respond to the situation immediately but called an emergency meeting late last night to solve the issue. According to a claim by their officials, Abahani -- who will not have more than seven players after yesterday's match due to injury and examination of players apart from the involvement of three cricketers in Test series against India -- were already expected to appeal for delaying the rest of the league. In the other incomplete game, Mohammedan reached 22 without loss in 4.2 overs in reply to Biman's 257-8, built around Nafis Iqbal's 80 off 88 balls, at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium. At BKSP, Sonargaon toppled third-placed Victoria in the table when they stormed to 183 for nine for a last-ball victory after being set a revised target of 181 in 31 overs. Sonargaon, chasing a challenging 268 for victory, were 130-4 after 26 overs when the match was interrupted due to rain and they needed 51 runs in five overs after the resumption. Mahbub Alam Robin's last-ball six in the ultimate delivery of the game took Sonargaon's collection to 17 points, level with Mohammedan and three behind Abahani, after opener Mehrab Hossain Opee gave a good start during his 57 off 80 balls. Earlier, opener Imrul Kayes struck 78 off 107 balls and Mahmudullah Riyad hammered five fours and as many sixes in an explosive 88 not out off 69 balls as Victoria made 267-9 in 50 overs after deciding to bat.
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