Saqlain Sajib grabbed five wickets in the second innings as Bangladesh A team completed an emphatic 118-run win over Zimbabwe A in the second four-day match to take the unofficial two-Test series 2-0 at Fatullah on Thursday. Chasing a target of 299 runs on the fourth and final day, the visitors were all out for 180 runs with almost an hour still to play as Saqlain finished with 5-75 adding to his 15-wicket haul in a six-wicket win in the first match at Cox’s Bazar.
Leg-spinner Zubair Hossain also had his share in the success, grabbing 3-71 to take his tally to seven in the match, which enabled him to win the man-of-the-match award.
Bangladesh A declared their second innings on 172-6 after resuming the fourth day’s play at 108-5. Skipper Naeem Islam, unbeaten on 13 overnight, scored a half-century to stay 50 not out.
Naeem, who played 54 balls for his overnight 13, added 37 runs off 59 balls.
Zimbabwe A received a jolt when Saqlain removed skipper Vusimuzi Sibanda and Mark Vermulen in his successive overs and paceman Kamrul soon sent Regis Chakabva back to the pavilion to leave them struggling at 21-3.
Brian Cheri, the highest scorer in the first innings with 47, held one end but wickets started to tumble from the other end at regular intervals always keeping the home side in the hunt.
Cheri was the last batsman dismissed just when Zimbabwe A team entered the mandatory 15-over phase of the final hour as Naeem caught him off the bowling of Saqlain.
The 23-year-old right-hander, who is yet to play any Test or one-dayer for Zimbabwe, made 74 four runs facing 130 balls and hitting two fours and three sixes.
The two teams will now be involved in three one-day matches, beginning from September 28.
-With New Age input
