BCB XI lose by six wickets
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI suffered a batting collapse at the top of the order that resulted in a six-wicket defeat to Sydney Thunder in their last practice game in Australia at the Spotless Stadium in Sydney today, ahead of the national team’s tour of New Zealand.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, BCB XI lost seven wickets for 76 runs before Hasan and Shuvagata Hom took the score to some respectability in a match where four key players – Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza – did not take part. Young wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan then rescued them and took them to a fighting score.
Defending a below-par 122 for eight, the BCB XI bowlers did their best to contain the Thunder batsmen, but the shackles were broken in the fifth over when stand-in skipper Mushfiqur Rahim brought in off-spinner Shuvagata Hom, and opener Jay Lenton hit him for three consecutive boundaries to take Thunder well ahead of the required rate. He was soon trapped leg-before by Rubel Hossain with the score on 48, but Sydney kept up the charge and notched up their 50 in the seventh over with skipper Eoin Morgan joining Ryan Gibson in the middle.
Rubel also picked up Gibson, having him caught at midwicket in the ring, and two for 57 became three for 60 when Tanveer Haider had Jake Doran beautifully caught by Sabbir Rahman at long on, with the fielder running back under the high hit, taking it cleanly and managing to stay within bounds to complete the catch.
With 63 needed off the last 10, BCB XI were in with a chance, but Morgan then took charge with a 20-run quickfire stand with Aiden Blizzard which ended when the latter chopped on off Subhashis Roy, and then an unbeaten 43-run stand with Arjun Nair to take the team home with two overs to spare. As both teams needed a bit of practice ahead of important matches (Thunder have the Big Bash League opener match against Sydney Sixers coming up), they decided to complete the two remaining overs and Rubel started that spell off by trapping Morgan leg-before. Rubel finished with figures of three for 27 from four overs, while Morgan ended on 33 with three fours and a six.
Earlier, young wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan struck a quickfire 35 as BCB XI recovered from a horrible start to a fighting 122 for eight.
Hasan struck three fours and a six while Shuvagata scored a workmanlike like 25 that featured one boundary.
But the visitors, who are now based in Sydney as part of their preparation for a full series in New Zealand starting later this month, got off to a forgettable start once Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to bat on a damp wicket caused by rain.
Opener Imrul Kayes was out in the first over off a Pat Cummins short ball. Soumya Sarkar (3), who starred in a seven-wicket win in the first practice game against Sydney Sixers, soon followed his opening partner, leaving the tourists at 8 for two after two overs.
Sabbir Rahman also departed quickly, ensuring that there would be no top-order fireworks at 13 for three
Mosaddek Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim joined forces to rebuild the innings but once Mushfiqur holed out in the deep, BCB XI were reduced to 21 for four. When Mosaddek was out for 13, the visitors lost half of their wickets for 38. They were reduced to 76 for seven in the 15th over.
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