A pace-spin combined attack from Mohammad Shahid and Saqlain Sajib gave Bangladesh-A team a surprising 14-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe ‘A’ cricket team in the fourth and final day of the first 4-dayer of the two-match four-dayer series at Harare Sports Club Ground yesterday.
The visiting Bangladesh side mustered 268 runs in their first innings being chosen to bat first, after which Zimbabwe made a good reply with 336. Thereafter, the tourists managed to score 211 in second innings knock before setting a paltry target of 144 runs on a pitch offering variable bounce.
Resuming the final day at 21-3, the home side lost their remaining wickets in the face of the combined pace-spin attack to add 108 before being skittled out for 129 runs.
With 123 runs to get, Zimbabwe ‘A’ came out a lot more positive on the fourth morning, hitting boundaries and rotating strike at ease but Mohammad Shahid provided timely breakthroughs when the right-handed paceman got rid of both overnight batsmen Visu Sibanda (15) and Donald Tiripano (15) in the space of 26 runs.