Bangladesh A regained the lead in the five-match series after they defeated England Lions by 75 runs in the third one-dayer at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. The victory ensured a 2-1 lead for the home side with two games to play in Sylhet on January 16 and 18 respectively.
It was a surprising result for a group of players that reached the venue on the night before the game and was put together after much deliberation with the Premier League clubs.
The advantage however was with the Bangladesh A players since they are in the middle of the competitive league and most of the ones who are picked are in form.
Back to the game and England Lions won the toss and chose to field first and even though the opening duo failed to make a mark in a partnership.
Nasiruddin Faruque was the one who stayed back to put up a useful 53 off 102 balls with the help of five boundaries. Faruque shared a 70-run third wicket stand with Shuvogoto Hom Chowdhury who made a 59-ball 45 with the help of five boundaries and a six.
All-rounder Mahmudul Hasan then hit up a splendid 47 not out off 57 balls, including two sixes and a boundary, which drove up Bnagladesh A’s total score to 218 in 50 overs. Left-arm spinner Danny Briggs took three important wickets while Stuart Meaker picked up two.
The second innings started off with a more or less steady graph with the opening partnership reaching almost 48, before Sohrawardi Shuvo removed James Vince for 16 in the eighth over.
Shuvo started the domino effect bowling out James Vince, then Enamul Haque Jr, Mahmudul, Taskin Ahmed and Shuvagoto, each took a wicket to restrict the Lions to reach the target of 219.
Opener Alexander Hales, 39 and Scott Borthwick, 44 contributed to the tally of England Lions, but it was not enough.
Shuvo picked up four wickets through dismissing Vince, Tom Maynard, Jonny Bairstow and Danny Briggs, while Enamul was economical as ever with 2-21 that included Hales and skipper James Taylor.
BRIEF SCORES
BANGLADESH A: 218-9 in 50 overs (Faruque 53, Mahmudul 43, Shuvogoto 45; Briggs 3-31, Meaker 2-43).
ENGLAND LIONS: 143 all out in 34.4 overs (Brothwick 44, Hales 39, Vince 16; Shuvo 4-25, Enamul 2-21).
Result: Bangladesh A won by 75 runs.
-With The Daily Star input