Bashar knocks well
Sports Reporter
Habibul Bashar started a demanding tour in a positive note as his unbeaten half-century anchored Bangladesh on the first day of the three-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka A at the Colts Cricket Club in Colombo yesterday.The immediate past Bangladesh skipper went to the island not only with the missions to rediscover his form but also to rekindle his reputation as a performer after losing captaincy to Mohammad Ashraful. And Bashar capitalised on the first opportunity to get back among runs with an unbeaten 60 to help the tourists finish the day on 183-5. The 34-year old right-hander shared a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket with his successor Ashraful as the Tigers recovered from a shaky 73-3 after deciding to bat first in the lone practice game ahead of the three-match Test series. Left-arm spinner Rangana Hearth, the most successful bowler with three scalps, had Ashraful caught behind to break the partnership. The new Bangladesh skipper made second team highest 37 off 89 balls that contained six boundaries and an over boundary. Herath struck again off the next delivery by dismissing left-hander Shakib Al Hasan for a golden duck but veteran wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud joined Bashar to see through the day's play without any further damage. Mashud negotiated 53 balls for seven runs while Bashar, who refused to be distracted by falling wickets at the other end, smashed five boundaries in 146 balls. Opener Shahriar Nafees, for whom this tour is also an acid test to keep his place in the side, looked well set to get back the confidence when the left-hander smashed four quick boundaries before right-arm pacer Dammika Prasad had him caught by Jehan Mubarak. The struggling opener scored 16 off 18 balls. Rajin Saleh joined Javed Omar to take the team safely into lunch break at 69-1 but two quick dismissals changed the scenario in the second session and Bangladesh then fought for survival as the run rate reduced. Javed, who made 34 off 88 balls with the help of six boundaries, was run out and Herath had a successful leg before appeal against Rajin, who scored 21 off 80 deliveries by hitting only two fours. Bangladesh's overall scoring rate for the day was a mere 2.3 mainly because of Prasad and Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who conceded less than one and a half runs per over. Herath was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for 51 in 20 overs. Bangladesh rested pace spearhead Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and ace left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique for the game.
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