Bangladesh tie A team series

A magnificent 143-ball 126 from opener Naim Sheikh helped Bangladesh A finish their five-match one day series against the visiting Afghanistan A on a high note. The home side registered a 62-run victory in the last game of the series -- ensuring a 2-2 series tie with one match being abandoned due to rain --  at the BKSP 3 ground in Savar today.

After being asked to bat, Bangladesh had lost two wickets for 45 runs in 13 overs before Naim strung together an 80-run third-wicket stand with Aminul Islam Biplob to bring some stability to the innings. Although Biplob saw his stumps shattered off a Karim Zannat delivery after scoring a 40-ball 22 in the 27th over, Naim went on to stitch another 84-run fourth-wicket partnership with Afif Hossain. Afif, who had missed his fifty by just five runs in their previous game, went on to score a 50-ball 53 before being dismissed in the 43rd over. However, Naim's spectacular century ensured that Bangladesh finished on a challenging score of 262 for nine.

Following the exchange, after an early hiccup -- in the fourth over when Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed by pacer Abu Jayed for just five to leave the score at 18 for one -- the visitors had bounced back in the match with a 56-run second-wicket stand between Rahmunllah Gurbaz (54 off 41) and Shahid Kamal (14 off 32). However, after that, a sudden collapse saw Afghanistan slump to 102 for seven in the 26th over as they lost five wickets for just 28 runs. Although there was a 65-run partnership between Nasir Jamal (47 off 72) and Sharafuddin Ashraf (35 off 35) for the eighth wicket, it still could not see the visiting side over the line as they were bundled out for 200 in 45.1 overs.  

Scores in Brief

Bangladesh A: 262 for nine in 50 overs (Naim 126, Afif 53, Aminul 22; Karim 4-73, Fazal 2-56)

Afghanistan A: 200 all out in 45.1 overs (Gurbaz 54, Nasir 47; Mishu 3-40, Shafiqul 2-32)

Result: Bangladesh A won by 62 runs.