Saif ton clinches series win for Bangladesh A

Bangladesh A rode on Saif Hassan’s blazing century to clinch the three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka 2-1, beating the hosts by 98 runs in D/L method in the third and final match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today. 

In the series deciding last game, opener Saif smote 12 fours and three sixes during his 110-ball 117 as the second-string Bangladesh side, which won the second game by one wicket after having lost the first, posted a mammoth 322 for nine in 50 overs after being sent into bat.

In reply, Sri Lanka A scored 130 for six in 24.4 overs before bad light stopped play. The fate of the match was decided in D/L method.  Saif took two wickets for 25 runs.

Earlier, Bangladesh got off to a good start, courtesy of two openers Saif and Mohammad Naim, who made 66 off 76 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes. The 120-run opening stand was broken when Naim was dismissed for obstructing the field.

Captain Mohammad Mithun was the other notable scorer with a 35-ball 32, featuring  one four and two sixes.

Pacer Shiran Fernando was the most successful Sri Lanka A bowler, taking four wickets for 50 runs.

“Saif played a brilliant knock while Naim missed a deserving hundred because of an unfortunate dismissal. The boys played good cricket here and it’s always a tough task to beat any Sri Lankan side on their home soil,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin told The Daily Star over phone from Colombo.