Shamsur, Shuvagata help BCB XI take 11-run lead

Shamsur, however, continued from the other end and executed some brilliant strokes on way to his fifty 

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Half-centuries from Shamsur Rahman and Shuvagata Hom guided the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI to a lead of 11 runs by the close of the second day’s play in the lone three-day warm-up game against Zimbabwe at Fatullah yesterday. BCB XI ended the day on 252/6 replying to the visitors’ first innings tally of 241 all out.

The home side resumed the penultimate day’s play on 11 for the loss of opener Shadman Islam’s (nought) wicket. The overnight batsmen, Shamsur and Rony Talukder, played sensibly and added 93 runs for the second wicket before the latter was dismissed by leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi after scoring 46 off 81 balls.

Shamsur, however, continued from the other end and executed some brilliant strokes on way to his fifty. Alongside Marshal Ayub, the third-wicket pair added 48 runs.

Another leg-spinner, Natsai M’shangwe, soon accounted for Shamsur’s wicket but not before the opener scored a well-made 69 off 158 deliveries with the help of nine fours and a six.

M’shangwe went on with his wicket-taking spree dismissing Marshal (31), BCB XI skipper Naeem Islam (two) and Asif Ahmed (23) as he provided some sort of momentum to the visitors.

Shuvagata (53 not out) and Taibur Rahman (15 not out) though steadied the ship and added an undefeated 36 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand.

Shuvagata displayed admirable patience during his unbeaten knock but did smash seven boundaries in his 124-ball innings.

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the day’s play, Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo informed that they will rely heavily on their pacemen as they are missing the services of two of their most experienced spinners – Raymond Price and Prosper Utseya. Price has retired from international cricket while Utseya was suspended by the ICC recently owing to an illegal bowling action.

“Normally in Zimbabwe we rely on our faster bowlers but we took a few young spinners. You know Raymond Price and Prosper Utseya, they are not playing so we have young spinners. We are relying on our faster bowlers so that the young spinners can come through,” said Mangongo.

Source: Dhaka Tribune