Bangladesh A beat New Zealand A with seven wickets and 136 balls in hand in the first unofficial “ODI” of the three-match series, at Sylhet.
Bangladesh A went 1-0 up with a comfortable win against New Zealand A at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 148, they got off to a rollicking start, thanks to Parvez Hossain Emon, who hit six fours (but nothing else) in his 12-ball 24. Emon’s opening partner Mohammad Naim (18 in 20 balls, three fours) kept the scoring rate going, and Bangladesh A raced to 53-2 in six overs.
Anamul Haque (38 in 45 balls, five fours) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (42 not out in 61 balls, one four, three sixes) then added 55. Once Anamul fell, Ankon helped complete the chase inside 28 overs in the company of captain Nurul Hasan (20 not out in 26 balls, one four, one six). For New Zealand, Northern Districts seamer Kristian Clarke claimed 2-30.
1st unofficial ODI, Bangladesh A vs New Zealand A
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- Ball by ball Over
Earlier, Bangladesh A took only 34.3 overs to skittle out New Zealand A for 147. Opener Rhys Mariu stood at one end with a 51-ball 42 (seven fours), but saw four of his partners depart without scoring a run.
Mariu’s opening partner Dale Phillips, the younger brother of international cricketer Glenn, went first, trapped leg-before by Shoriful Islam. Muhammad Abbas and captain Nick Kelly were also part of the collapse. Mariu, Abbas, and Kelly are New Zealand’s last three men’s ODI caps.
Shoriful (2-27) and Khaled Ahmed (3-27) shared the first four wickets as the tourists slumped to 13-4.
Mariu took on the bowling, but Ebadot Hossain (2-35) and Tanvir Islam (3-45) backed up the new-ball bowlers with periodic strikes, and New Zealand A soon became 62-8 and then 85-9. Only some big hitting from No.8 Daniel Foxcroft (72 in 64 balls, eight fours, four sixes) took them to a fighting total.
The next two “ODIs” will be played on May 7 and 10. These will be followed by two unofficial “Tests”, from May 14 and 21. All games will be played at Sylhet.
