Bangladesh team’s top scorer Mohammad Ashraful (83) attempts a sweep shot while Bangladesh ‘A’ team’s Naeem Islam (101 not out) jumps into the air to celebrate his century during their BCB Cup match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday. — Net Staff Correspondent
An unbeaten century by all-rounder Naeem Islam was not enough for the Bangladesh A team to upset the national side as the Tigers notched up a comfortable 36-run win in the BCB Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.
All eyes were on the two national captaincy hopefuls, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, in their first meeting and they both did well enough respectively with bat and ball to catch the attention of the BCB directors.
But Mushfique’s 61-ball 63 and Mahmudullah’s 4-75 were largely overshadowed by their two hungry team-mates Mohammad Ashraful and Naeem who have their own issues in the tournament.
Hit-and-miss Asharful made the most of his chance after he was included in the side for Imrul Kayes, making a flawless fifty that formed the part of the Tigers’ highly impressive 311-9 in their stipulated 50 overs.
Rain halted the A team’s run chase in the 13th over with the side stuck at 51-2, but after resumption they were given a revised target of 271 runs and Naeem almost turned the table with his 101 not out.
But a lack of support to the all-rounder from the other end left the A team stranded at 239-8, though Naeem got what mattered most for him – the man-of-the-match award and an attention of coach Stuart Law.
For Law this is a tournament to have a look at the players who were not part of the squad that toured Zimbabwe and he must be pleased to see Naeem playing with his full potential.
With an increasing influence of Mahmudullah in the side and the emergence of Nasir Hossain made the competition for the slot of spinning all-rounder intense more than ever and Naeem knew the only way he can make a room for himself is by performing well in the competition.
He did it in an exquisite manner, hitting Sohrawardi Shuvo for a six, one boundary and two runs in the first four balls of the penultimate over to complete his century, although any chance his side had to cruise home was already over.
‘I am not very worried about getting back into the national side,’ Naeem told reporters after the game. The only thing I know is that I have to perform in each and every game that I play. The rest is not in my control.’
‘Since I am not in the national team, it allowed me to bat up the order and it was a help,’ said Naeem, who batted at number four and came to the crease at a time when his side were reeling at 2-20 thanks to a double strike by Rubel Hossain.
Before Naeem, it was Ashraful who left the spectators spellbound with his 83 off 72 balls, powered by 12 fours and a six from a free hit off a Farhad Hossain delivery.
Tamim Iqbal (65 off 67 balls) and Shahriar Nafees (50 from 76 balls) also hit half-centuries to put on 118 runs in their opening stand, giving Ashraful the perfect foundation to play his natural game and the former skipper did not waste of his chance this time.
Three consecutive boundaries off Shahadat Hossain showed his intent and Ashraful grew in confidence to race to his fifty off 47 balls before left-arm spinner Elias Sunny ended his onslaught.
‘I should have completed the century anyway. The wicket was very good for batting and it only got better and better,’ Ashraful told reporters.
‘I was given the liberty by the coach to play my shots, which was not the case for me in the past, and eased my pressure. I was confident that I will do well,’ he said.
Courtesy: New Age
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