Tigers win first match on tour
Following a disastrous two-Test series against West Indies, the Bangladesh team will regain some confidence after securing a four-wicket win in a day-night fifty-over warm-up game against UWI Chancellor's XI at Sabina Park on Thursday.
Man-of-the-match Mosaddek Hossain was the pick of the bowlers as the off-spinner bagged four wickets for just 14 runs from his 10 overs and pacer Rubel Hossain took three wickets to restrict UWI Chancellor's XI to a modest 227 for nine in 50 overs.
In reply, the visitors rode on Mushfiqur Rahim's unbeaten 75 and Liton Das's 70 to register a much-needed victory for the Tigers with 37 balls to spare.
It was not just a warm-up game; there was a festive mood at Sabina Park as cricket organisers arranged a reception to honour two famous Jamaicans, Chris Gayle and former fast bowler Patrick Patterson ahead of the game.
Bangladesh opted to rest Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, who just joined the side. Mahmudullah Riyad was named captain for the match.
Electing to bat, UWI were in a spot of bother after losing skipper Chadwick Walton for a duck, after which Gayle and Amir Jangoo added a patient 78-ball 50-run partnership. Mosaddek then dismissed the dangerous Gayle for 29 in his first over.
Andre Russell, who started off his innings with a six and a four, was undone by Mustafizur Rahman after scoring eleven as the batting side were struggling on 89 for six inside 26 overs.
But Yanick Otlley (58) and Kavem Hodge (44) added 91 runs for the seventh wicket to help UWI XI post a respectable total.
In reply, opener Anamul Haque was trapped leg-before by Russell for a duck but Liton and Nazmul Hossain added 90 runs for the second wicket. Liton retired after suffering a blow to his hand when on 41, and Nazmul departed soon afterwards for 43.
Mahmudullah (10), Sabbir Rahman (4) and Mosaddek (11) departed cheaply and made things difficult for Mushfiqur, but Liton resumed his innings after Mosaddek's dismissal.
Liton was eventually dismissed when just 14 runs were needed to win, but Mushfiqur remained unbeaten to ensure an easy win.
"We had good preparation from the warm-up game, especially my innings where I tried to stay at the wicket as long I could, keeping the main matches in mind. Overall we had a very good outing in all three departments and we will try to continue playing in such a manner in the upcoming series," said Liton.
Bangladesh will take on West Indies in the first of three ODIs in Guyana tomorrow.
Their tour of West Indies has so far been a hugely disappointing one. They lost the first Test in Antigua by an innings and 219 runs -- which included their lowest ever Test score of 43 -- and the second Test in Jamaica by 166 runs.