England XI score 137/4
The first tour match finally allowed some batting practice for the England team today after rain washed out the opening day’s play at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.
The two-day game, which eventually turned into a 45-over-a-side match, started in earnest under glorious sunshine with left-handed opener Ben Duckett, who had a wonderful debut in the ODI series against Bangladesh, carrying his good form with bat against the red ball as England XI, very much in Test-match mode, scored 137 for four at the end of the 45 overs.
The left-right pair of Duckett and Haseeb Hameed put on 77 runs for the first wicket before Duckett was retired out after scoring an aggressive 59 off 66 balls. Skipper Sabbir Rahman with his mixed gem of spinners dismissed Joe Root for two as England XI were reduced to 79-1 after 21 overs against the BCB XI. Sabbir also dismissed Haseeb for 16 as the visitors went to lunch 87-2 in 26 overs.
Even with the generous sunshine, it was scant practice for the Test players for whom this was the first competitive outing on tour. The 19-year-old Hameed spent an hour and 40 minutes at the crease while Root will rue a missed opportunity on a docile pitch.
Moeen Ali, one of the players who featured in the ODI leg of the tour which England won 2-1 on Wednesday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, was Sabbir's third wicket, caught by Kamrul Islam Rabbi in the 42nd over for 24 off 74. Test specialist Gary Ballance however made most of the limited opportunity by occupying the crease for 98 minutes for an unbeaten 27.
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