Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh ‘A’ Cricket team beat Hong Kong (HK) by five wickets in their first Group-A match of the Emerging Teams (ET) T20 Asia Cup at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Friday.
Chasing Hong Kong’s modest total of 150 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Bangladesh ‘A’ Cricket team romped home making 151 for the loss of five wickets when they had 10 balls to spare.
Bangladesh made an auspicious start with two openers Jishan Alam and Parvez Hossain put on together 32 runs in the opening stand before Jishan Alam (11) was dismissed by Ehsan Khan.
One-down Saif Hassan (5) was dismissed by Nasrulla Rana when Bangladesh’s total was 38 for the loss of two wickets.
After Saif’s dismissal, Parvez Hossain could not stay at the crease for a long period as he was dismissed by Ateeq Iqbal when Bangladesh’s score was 55 for the loss of three wickets.
Parvez Hossain made 28 from 26 deliveries featuring two sixes and a four.
After Parvez’s departure, Towhid Hridoy and Akbar Ali built a worthy partnership scoring together 54 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Towhid Hridoy was trapped leg before wicket by Ehsan Khan when Bangladesh’s total was 109 for the loss of four wickets.
Towhid Hridoy scored 29 from 22 balls including two fours and a sixer.
Akbar Ali was dismissed by Ehsan Khan when Bangladesh’s score was 129 for the loss of five wickets.
Akbar Ali hit a captain’s knock of 45. He struck three sixes and four fours in his 24-ball stormy innings.
After Akbar Ali’s dismissal, Shamim Hossain and Mahmufuzur Rahman helped their side to reach the winning spot adding 22 runs in the unbroken sixth wicket stand.
Shamim Hossain remained unbeaten with 19 runs, while Mahfuzur Rahman remained unbeaten with eight runs.
Eahsan Khan captured three wickets in the space of 12 runs, while Ateeq Iqbal and Nasrulla Rana took one wicket each conceding 25 and 29 runs respectively.
Earlier, Ripon Mondol of Bangladesh played the key role to restrict Hong Kong to a modest total. He claimed four wickets at the cost 24 runs. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb bowling attack.
Mahfuzur Rahman, Rakibul Hasan, Rejaur Rahman and Abu Hider picked up one wicket each giving 19, 25, 35 and 44 runs respectively.
Second-down Babar Hayat and one-down Nizakat Khan fought back against the tight, controlled and superb bowling attack of Bangladeshi bowlers.
Babar Hayat notched up a marvelous 85. His 61-ball innings had seven sixes and two fours.
Nizakat Khan made 25 from 20 deliveries with one four and one six.
