Confidence boosting win for Tigers
Mushfiq, Liton hit half centuries
Sports Reporter
A couple of fifty-plus scores from Mushfiqur Rahim (75 not out) and Liton Kumar Das (70) marshalled Bangladesh to beat the UWI Vice-Chancellors XI by four-wicket in the one-off day-night practice match at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica in the early hour of Friday.
After devastating losses in Test series, the victory in practice match at least will provide some mental impetus for the visiting side to head into the next one-day international series against the hosts West Indies, who have bolstered the one-day team further by including Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.
Chasing the 228-run target, set by Chris Gayle inspired UWI Vice Chancellors XI, Bangladesh were fumbled in the very beginning of the innings when they mislaid Anamul Haque Bijoy for naught.
Liton Kumar Das took the charge on his shoulder and steadied the ship with promising Nazmul Hossain Shanto. They hit an invaluable 101 runs for the second-wicket stand before the exit of Shanto, who got out for 43.
Having received injury on hand when Liton retired hurt, Mahmudullah Riyad- who took the charge of the team in lieu of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in the practice match, came to pair with Mushfiqur Rahim.
This time Bangladesh sustained a mini-collapse losing Shanto, Mahmudullah and then Sabbir Rahman in the space of 26 runs that apparently sent them to the backfoot for a while.
Mushfiqur prevailed the situation with his fellow batsmen. The diminutive batsman added 29 runs with Mosaddek Hossain Saikat for the fifth-wicket partnership but Saikat fell for 11 having bowled by Searles.
Liton returned to the field and resume his batting. He shared a crucial 57 runs with Musfiqur Rahim for the sixth-wicket stand that sent them near to victory. Both Liton and Mushfiqur completed their respective half-century. Liton finally bashed for 70 off 79 with half-a-dozen boundaries along with two over-boundaries before being caught by Chadwick Walton off Kavem Hodge.
Mushfiqur did the remaining of work with Mehedi Hasan Miraj and slotted the team home with a boundary. Mushfiqur clubbed half-a-dozen fours and one six in his unbeaten knock of 70-ball 75. Miraj was at stumps on four.
Earlier, the UWI Vice-Chancellors XI led by Chadwick Walton opted to bat first and lost their opener-cum-captain before opening their account fast bowler Rubel Hossain clean bowled him.
Together with wicket-keeper batsman Amir Jangoo, the mercurial batsman Chris Gayle handled the initial trouble with sheer composure and shared a useful 50 runs for the second wicket stand.
But Mosaddek Hossain Saikat got rid of swashbuckling batsman before imposing any big threat as Gayle left for 29 off 44 that littered with three boundaries and one over-boundary.
Mustafizur Rahman then removed another dangerman Andre Russell for 11. At this stage, the local side were wobbling at 89 for six. Yanick Otlley partnered with Kavem Hodge and hit a well-composed 91 runs for the seventh-wicket stand that gave them to a respectable total.
Rubel Hossain dismissed Hodge, who fell six runs shy of his half-century. Even though Hodge missed his fifty, Otlley completed his half-century before being victimized by Rubel. He was the third batsman to fall apart by this fast-bowler. Rubel Hossain finished his bowling with the figures of 3-40. Before being departed Otlley clattered four fours and one six in his 58-run mark.
Off-spinner Mosaddek Hossain Saikat among the tourists bowlers was the most successful bowler who chipped in with the figures of 4-14 in his 10-over quota. Mustafizur Rahman and Abu Haider Rony claimed one wicket apiece for the winners.
