GrameenPhone Corporate Cricket League - Almost semifinals

Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:01 am            

The semifinal line-up of the Grameen-Phone Corporate Cricket League was all but confirmed after Epyllion and Acme won their respective group matches at different city venues yesterday.

Dashing Bangladesh batsman Tushar Imran slammed the second ton of the competition as Epyllion confirmed their berth with a 52-run victory over Ispahani in their last Group B encounter at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium securing nine points from five matches.


The outcome also ensured Gazi Tanks' ticket to the last four with seven points. All that remains is who will be the group champions after today's match between Gazi and lowly Security Air Express.


Acme were poised to enter the last four from Group A after a convincing 91-run victory over Biman in a low-scoring match at the BKSP.

Beximco, Acme and Biman have seven points each but only an unlikely upset in the game between Beximco and Jamuna Bank can bring out the calculators.


If Beximco win their last match as expectedly then Acme will qualify because of Friday's head-to-head success against the national flag carrier side.


The day's other match between two newcomers, Metro Real Estate and Orion Group at the Dhaka University's Jagannath Hall ground saw the former post a three-wicket win.


EPYLLION-ISPAHANI
Tushar Imran hammered 102 and his national mate Shahriar Nafees chipped in with a blistering 70 as Epyllion amassed a challenging total of 264-7 in their share of 50 overs.


The right-hander whacked eight fours and four sixes off 105 balls. His century followed Al Shahriar's superb 147 against Orion in Khulna earlier last month. Nafees' 72-ball knock featured 12 boundaries.


Off-spinner Fahim Muntasir was the most successful Ispahani bowler picking up three wickets for 33 runs.


National opener Nafees Iqbal scored 62 off 88 deliveries and Rezaul Karim made an 84-ball 61 however in the end Ispahani were restricted to 212-8.


Pace sensation Shahadat Hossain Rajib and spinner Nabil Samad picked up three wickets each.


ACME-BIMAN
Acme put up a feeble total of 195-5 after captain Habibul Bashar decided to bat. But it was more than enough as Biman suffered a spectacular collapse.


Opener Nasiruddin Faruque (36), Javed Omar (37) and Enamul Haque Sr (35) were the only notable scorers for Acme while pacer Mushfiqur Rahman and left-arm spinner Saifullah Jem picked up two wickets each for Biman.


Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique finished with figures of 3-6 in 5.5 overs as Biman were bundled out for 104 in 33.4 overs.

METRO REAL-ORION
Arif Reza scored 90 and Maruf Reza was 59 not out as Metro Real Estate enjoyed a successful run chase to register their first victory in the competition.


Metro scored 270-7 in 49.2 overs in reply to Orion's 269 all out in 49.2 overs.


Sakil Haider made 69 and Tareq Ahmed 53 for Orion.

Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:58 pm