BCB XI batman Mosaddek Hossain is bowled by Afghanistan spinner Mohammad Nabi (not in picture) during their warm-up match at Fatullah on Friday.
Afghanistan showed what to expect from them in the upcoming three-match one-day international series as they beat BCB XI by 66 runs in their only practice match at Fatullah on Friday.
Mosaddek Hossain proved his worth with a superb half-century but it went in vain as others could not contribute.
Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul helped the visitors bowl out the opposition for 167 runs in 38.1 overs after reaching 233 runs in 49.2 overs on the back of Hashmatullah Shahidi’s 69.
BCB XI put out a strong line-up with eight international players but looked to be in awe against Afghanistan’s fast and slow bowlers.
Mosaddek Hossain came out as only exception with his dominating 76 from 97 balls, which justified his inclusion in the 13-man Bangladesh squad for the series proper.
BCB XI were struggling at 39-4 before Mosaddek saved them from more embarrassment with the help of two sizable partnerships.
Fast bowler Karim removed skipper Imrul Kayes for eight when he had the left-hander caught at mid-on in the fourth over while Fareed Ahmed’s left-arm pace proved to be too good for Anamul Hauqe, who departed for five hoisting a catch to Rashid Ahmed.
Fareed delivered a further blow by picking up Sabbir Rahman whose flick went straight into the hands of Amir Hamza at square-leg.
BCB XI lost their fourth wicket when Mohammad Nabi had Liton Das stumped for just six runs before Mosaddek and Mehedi Hasan put up a much-needed partnership.
Mosaddek and Mehedi added 56 runs for the fifth wicket stand before the latter was run out making 15 runs.
Mosaddek, who batted cautiously from the start, looked to come out of shell as the innings progressed and received some support from Shuvagata Hom in the process as the pair added a rapid 59 in the next nine overs.
Mosaddek reached his fifty, but just when he was looking threatening for Afghanistan, he was beautifully bowled by Mohammad Nabi in the 34th over.
With the end of Mossadek’s innings, which included five fours and three huge sixes, the home side went out of the contest and suffered a huge loss.
Earlier put into bat, the visitors missed out on playing the full 50 overs having been bowled out with four balls remaining in the final over.
Abu Hider bowled beautifully to concede just 13 runs in his first six overs while Alauddin Babu and Subashis Roy complemented to keep the Afghans in check.
Hashmatullah Shahidi helped the visitors recover from 3-47 to post a decent total with 69 off 96 balls before he was bowled by Babu, the most successful BCB XI bowler with 3-32.
Afghanistan collapsed again after his dismissal but got the kind of total in the end which proved to be enough for a morale-boosting win.
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan also claimed three wickets for 48 runs while Hider and Subashis grabbed two wickets each.
Afghanistan will now engage themselves in the three-match series against Bangladesh, which starts on Sunday with a day-night affair at Mirpur.
Source: New Age
