McGrath's thorny ton

A timely century by Anthony McGrath rescued Marylebone Cricket Club on the first day of the three-day match against Bangladesh Cricket Board President's Eleven at the Rajshahi Stadium yesterday.

McGrath, the right-handed Yorkshireman, slammed an unbeaten 119 as the tourists overcame an early collapse to reach 222 for seven before they declared their innings 45 minutes before close of play.

That left the home side to negotiate 10 hostile overs. By stumps, they had slumped to 23 for two.

After winning the toss, MCC skipper Min Patel may have rued his decision to bat as five wickets fell for 67 runs.

Right-arm seamer Shafiuddin Ahmed tore through the top-order claiming the scalps of Matthew Wood (1), foamier England opener Bill Athey (9) and Ben Smith (8) with the scoreboard reading only 28.

Things turned from bad to worse when they lost Paul Nixon and Barry Hyam with the addition of another 39 runs.

However, it was number four McGrath who showed nerves of steel.

Coming in to the crease with MCC reeling at 12 for two in the 10th over, McGrath watched helplessly as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. But it was when former Australian Test cricketer Tony Dodemaide arrived in the 48th over that the visitors showed a turnaround from 93 for six.

The pair put on 115 runs for the seventh wicket, helping MCC cross the two-hundred mark. The stand was dominated by McGrath.

The vital partnership came to an end in the 76th over when Dodemaide was out on 27, holing out to Al-Shahriar off the bowling of Naimur Rahman. The MCC score was then 208.

They added another 14 runs before declaring innings.

In his 305-ball innings, McGrath sent off-spinner Fahim Muntasir twice over the rope. His knock contained 14 boundaries.

Shafiuddin Ahmed finished the day with four for 46 from his 17 overs. Off-spinners Fahim Muntasir and Naimur Rahman meanwhile captured one wicket each conceding 46 and 22 runs respectively.

MCC new-ball bowler Neil Killeen sent a chill down the Bangladesh spine with five fiery overs.

Opener Sajid Hasan (4) was first to go being clean bowled in the 4th ball of the innings while one-down Al-Shahriar (5) trudged off to pavilion in the 7th over edging to wicketkeeper Paul Nixon.

Opener Azam Iqbal was batting on 11 while Naimur Rahman was unbeaten on 1 at close.