Mahmud aces practice match as seamers shine
Young pacer Hasan Mahmud starred with four wickets as seamers utilised the overcast conditions and early movement to bundle out Tamim Iqbal XI for just 161 runs as Mahmudullah XI won the first practice match by five wickets at BKSP yesterday.
Chasing 162 runs in the 40-overs-a-side game, skipper Mahmudullah Riyad guided his side over the finish line with an unbeaten fifty to reach the target with 19 balls to spare.
After Mahmudullah XI chose to bowl first, their pacers -- spearheaded by Mahmud with young left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam and Al-Amin Hossain providing valuable support -- shared eight wickets among themselves.
Al-Amin picked up the first wicket of Liton Das for two, but skipper Tamim and Nazmul Hossain Shanto added 40 for the second wicket and seemed to be setting up a big total. It was then Mahmud who changed the game, dismissing both batsmen in their twenties with some brilliant bowling to leave Tamim XI struggling on 69 for three.
Shoriful then joined in and removed Mohammad Mithun (15) and Afif Hossain for 35 as Tamim XI were dismissed for a sub-par total. Mahmud ended up with figures of four for 21 from six overs, which included a maiden, while Shoriful and Al-Amin scalped two each.
"There was some movement early on from the bowlers and I think our bowlers bowled well with the new ball. We managed to pick some early wickets which put the pressure on the batters but overall bowlers from both teams did well and I think it was a bowlers' day today," Mahmudullah told the media after the game yesterday.
Defending a rather modest total, left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman gave the early breakthrough for Tamim XI as he trapped Yasir Ali leg before on three. Shakib Al Hasan also departed cheaply for nine in rather unfortunate manner when his shot deflected off the non-striker and went straight to the fielder, causing him to be run-out.
Left-handed opener Naim Sheikh looked solid at the other end and scored 43 off 52 balls, which included seven fours, before he was caught behind off the bowling of seamer Mohammad Saifuddin.
Mushfiqur Rahim chipped in with 28 but skipper Mahmudullah held the ship together from the other end and remained unbeaten on 51 off 64 balls with four boundaries to register an easy win.
The Tigers will play the second practice match tomorrow before taking on West Indies in the first of the three-match ODI series on January 20.
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