Liton Das propelled the Bangladesh Under-23 side to a three-wicket win over Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in a practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing BCB XI’s 248-10, Liton struck 110 from 109 balls to steer the U-23 side to the target with 22 deliveries to spare. Liton smashed 16 boundaries and shared a 105-run stand with Sabbir Rahman (56 off 55 balls) for the fifth wicket, as the U-23 side romped to victory despite some early breakthroughs by the BCB XI bowlers.
Sajidul Islam (3-39) and Sohag Gazi (2-37) were the pick of the BCB XI bowlers.
Earlier, BCB XI posted a score of 248 all out in 48.3 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was the highest scorer of the innings with 60 runs from 67 balls. Other notable contributions came from Roqibul Hasan (35) and Ziaur Rahman (32).
Alauddin Babu, Soumya Sarker and Taijul Islam shared six wickets between them to prevent BCB XI from registering a handsome total.
The match was organised as part of the Bangladesh national cricket team’s preparation for the forthcoming New Zealand series in October and the A team’s tour of the UK.
The selectors said that two more matches will be held this week and they will try to give every player an opportunity to have some vital match practice.
New Zealand will arrive on October 2 for a two-Test series, three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 match.
The A team will embark on the UK tour on August 1 and will take part in five one-day matches against Hampshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire on August 6, 9, 11, 14 and 16 respectively.
The second-string side will also take on the English Lions in a three-match one-day series scheduled to be held on August 20, 22 and 24.
Meanwhile, the U-23 side will leave for Singapore next month to take part in the eight-nation Emerging Nations Cup, to be held from August 17-26.
-With New Age input
