Nasir Hossain’s scintillating unbeaten century went in vain as Green XI defeated Red XI by 137 runs in the two-day match of national cricket team ahead of their Zimbabwe tour at the GP-BCB Academy ground on Sunday.
Nasir, one of the four uncapped players in the 23-member preliminary squad, overshadowed his fellow Tigers with a superb 101off 124 balls but rued lack of support from the other players as Reds were all out for 224 runs in 59 overs replying to Greens’ 361-4.
Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain gave Reds a nightmare at the start of their innings, reducing them to 13-3 before Mohammad Ashraful and Naeem Islam staved off further damage.
Naeem was out for 19 from 40 balls bringing in Nasir to the crease. But the Rajshahi all-rounder soon lost his captain Ashraful, caught by Mahmudullah off left-arm spinner Elias Sunny at slip for 22 off 52 balls.
Ashraful appeared to be in a good nick when he square-cut Rubel for two boundaries in the previous over, but a similar shot against spin brought his demise.
Sunny claimed 4-40, the best among the Green bowlers, with Shafiul taking (3-31), Rubel (1-40), Abdur Razzak (2-69).
It was, however, Nasir who caught the eyes of the selectors more than anyone else with his unbeaten century adorned with 18 fours and a six.
Apart from Sohrwardi Shuvo (29 off 49 balls), no one from the lower order could provide him any kind of support.
Interim coach Sarwar Imran was understandably unhappy with the batsmen.
‘Some of the batsmen played too many shots,’ he told reporters after the game.
‘But I must say some players used this game to
build some confidence which will help them,’
Bangladesh dropped the idea of playing a four-day game from July 16, which was supposed to be their last practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Instead the team management decided to arrange two more two-day matches on July 16-17 and 20-21 before the team leave for Zimbabwe.
The move was taken to give skipper Sakib al Hasan and vice-captain Tamim Iqbal a chance to play the last two-day match after they return from England on July 17.
-With New Age input
