Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 161 Tue. November 02, 2004  
   
Sports


GrameenPhone Corporate League
GP cut off CityCell


Speedster Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza provided some firework with the bat as sponsor GrameenPhone recorded their third consecutive victory in the Cup stage of the GrameenPhone Corporate Cricket League defeating CityCell by 18 runs at BKSP yesterday.

Bangladesh Biman also continued their winning spree as the national flag carrier upset holders Araf Apparels with a 24-run victory at the same venue.

The all-win record helped the two sides brighten their chances to book semifinal berths in the six-team competition as newcomers Robintex, who won the day's other match against AKTEL, Araf and CityCell followed them with one win each.

Dashing middle-order batsman Tushar Imran hammered 34 while Mashrafee, who returned to action in the previous match after a one-year lay-off due to injury, played a cameo 31 in 17 balls to steer GrameenPhone to a challenging total of 140-6 in the stipulated 20 overs.

In reply, CityCell finished their 20-over quota on 122-8 with Nabil Samad making highest 38 not out. Pacer Anwar Hossain Munir and left-arm spinner Enamul Haq Jr picked up two wickets each.

Meanwhile, Mashrafee -- dubbed Narail Express -- bowled four overs without any success. He however did not use his full speed.

In the second match at the same venue, Biman bowled out Araf for 94 after making 118-9.

At the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, Gazi Salahuddin's quickfire 45 helped Robintex taste their first win in the competition beating AKTEL by six wickets.

The cellular phone operators were bundled out for 88 after deciding to bat first. Robintex comfortably reached the target of 89 losing four wickets in 15.4 overs.

In the plate competition, BEXIMCO registered their third successive victory when they beat Acme Laboratories by 35 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

At the Jagannath Hall ground, Gazi Tank recorded their second win beating Partex Group by seven wickets while newcomers Epyllion defeated Ispahani by two wickets for their first win.