Nasir ton helps Bangladesh keep winning
Sports Reporter
Nasir Hossain smashed an unbeaten 109 that helped Bangladesh continue their winning streak as they thrashed Nepal by 83 runs in their second match of the Max Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (SKICS) Academy ground in Coxs Bazar yesterday.
The home side will face-off Pakistan in the third and last Group-B match at the main ground of the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (SKICS) on Thursday before heading for semifinals in Chittagong.
Bangladesh Under-23 compiled 257 for nine in their stipulated 50 overs, after which Nepal were skittled out for 174 in 42.3 overs.
After winning the toss, Nepalese skipper Gyenandra Malla decided to field first on the newly-built Academy ground with the hopes of halting the march of the local side. Malla was succeeded in his initial plan as his side rattled Bangladesh top-order while the home side were stuttering at 33 for four.
Together with his deputy Nasir Hossain, Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque broke the shackles of the Nepalese bowling attack and lifted his team from the precarious situation. The duo pulled together 78 runs for the fifth wicket stand before the dismissal of Haque, who clouted 78-ball 61 that was studded with seven boundaries.
Nasir then attempted to stretch the innings with the help of the fellow teammates till the end. En route to his unbeaten 109-run knock, he stitched together a sting of useful partnerships including an invaluable 76-run with Abul Hossain Raju for the ninth wicket stand, which gave a decent total of 257-9 for the junior Tigers.
Nasir bashed 12 fours and two sixes in his indefatigable 115-ball innings. Before being caught, Raju slammed 29 off 30, clubbing one six as many as four.
Avinash Karn was the most successful bowler who grabbed three wickets for Nepal, while Sandeep Lamichhane finished the day with 2-41.
Chasing the target of 258 to win, Nepal Under-23 Cricket Team lost three wickets in the space of 16 runs. Young pacer Mohammad Saifuddin and experienced Abu Hasan Raju were accounted for these fallen wickets. Later, Saifuddin and Raju could add another wicket to his respective kitty. Saifuddin removed Binod Bhandari and Raju sent back Bhuvan Karki. The 20-year-old seamer finished his bowling figures with 3-22, while national discard Raju chipped in with 2-40.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dilip Nath and Dipendra Singh Airee tried to rescue the team and clubbed 98-run for the fourth wicket partnership that posed a threat in local fortress but Rahatul Ferdous staged a mini drama in middle order with the fall of Nath, who fell nine runs short of his half century. He cracked four fours and one six in his 41 off 62 before being bowled.
Ferdous showed his best figures with four for 45. Finally the visiting side were bundled out for 174 in 42.3 overs.
In other match, India edged past Malaysia by seven wickets at ease in Chittagong to remain on top of the Group-A points table.
Elsewhere at the SKICS in Coxs Bazar, Pakistan crushed Hong Kong by comprehensive 248 runs, while Sri Lanka tasted their first victory battling past Afghanistan by 35 runs in the high-scoring match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in the port city.
