Veteran all-rounder Moha-mmad Rafique scored a cracking 50 off 21 balls to snatch a dramatic five-wicket victory for Abahani over Gazi Tank Cricketers, clinching the Premier Twenty20 League title at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday. Rafique completely changed the direction of the game when it seemed Gazi Tanks were preparing for celebration with Abahani needing 41 runs in the final three overs in pursuit of 145 runs.

Rafique chose his former national team bowling partner Abdur Razzak to swing the momentum away from Gazi Tanks scoring 23 runs in the 18th over that included three sixes in consecutive deliveries. Next over Alok Kapali came to the receiving end as the veteran all-rounder struck him for two sixes that left Abahani needing only four runs in the last over. However, Rafique was still six runs short of a half-century, so he decided to go for the big shot again and was successful. The first ball of the final over, bowled by Ziaur Rahman, landed over the boundary rope to take Abahani to 147-5 in 19.1 overs. Nasir Hossain was unbeaten with a run-a-ball 31 at the other end.

Nasir deserved no less credit than Rafique to keep Abahani in the match after they lost four wickets for 56 runs. After Nazmul Hossain removed Imrul Kayes and Mahbubul Karim, Abahani lost their way with Kapali delivering a twin blow to dismiss Sakib al Hasan and Rony Talukder in the space of three balls. And when they also lost big-hitting Nadif Chowdhury to Sohrawardi Shuvo with the scoreboard reading 5-82, it looked Gazi Tanks as the only potential winners. Opting to bat first, Gazi Tanks lost their semi-final hero Mohammad Mithun in the fifth ball of the match, but it did not stop them to take the advantage of the powerplay as Nazimuddin and Shahriar Nafees added 53 runs in the second wicket stand.

The introduction of Mohammad Rafique after the end of the powerplay’s six overs perhaps enticed them to adopt a more attacking approach and they paid the price soon. After Nazim struck him over the long on for a six, the veteran left-arm spinner dragged him out of the crease next ball to end his innings on 29. Wicketkeeper Sahgir Hossain, who accomplished the stumping, gave Abahani a second moment of joy five balls later taking a smart catch offered by Alok Kapali off Sakib al Hasan. Gazi lost the momentum when Shahriar (26) followed his skipper miscuing a catch at short midwicket to Nadif Chowdhury off Rafique. Joining Naeem Islam at the crease, all-rounder Sohrawardi Shuvo staved off further damage to put together 78-run in their unbeaten fifth wicket stand.

Sohrawardi, better known as a left-arm spinner, overshadowed his more famous partner to become the highest scorer for Gazi with 44 not out. His 38-ball innings included five boundaries. Naeem, who often brag about his strike rate, settled with unbeaten 32 off 31 balls. Earlier in the afternoon, Mohammedan beat Khelaghar SKS by 74 runs to secure the third place. Mohammedan, who were still smarting from their shock semi-final defeat to arch-rivals Abahani, put 144-9 opting to bat with ICL veteran Aftab Ahmed scoring highest 31 off 28 balls.

Foysal Hossain added 25 off 14 balls to help Mohammedan get a decent score on the board. Kehlaghar were in danger of having been dismissed for the lowest total of the tournament when they lost their ninth wicket for only 37 runs in reply. But somehow their lower-order managed to saw off all the 20 overs allotted to them before they were all out in the final ball of the innings for 70. Mohammedan pacer Emon Ahmed won man of the match award for his 4-21. Pop singer Mila performed during the gap between the final and the third place-deciding match to entertain around a crowd of 20,000 gathered at the home of cricket to watch the Twenty20 extravaganza.

-New Age