Middle order batsman Naeem Islam’s unbeaten 95 off 289 balls, along with BCB Academy cricketer, Mominul Islam’s vital 72, allowed BCB Green to score 254 runs for six wickets against BCB Red, in the first day of the four-day practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Winning the toss, BCB green skipper, Shahriar Nafees opted to bat first, but the strategy back fired as he had to walk back to the dressing room in the very first ball of the innings. The shiny leather delivered by speedster Shafiul Islam of BCB Red, slinked Nafees’ willow and was safely deposited into wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim’s gloves.
BCB Green’s start got even shakier when they lost their second wicket, Junaid Siddique (10) in the fourth over and again, it was Shafiul who got the break.
Following Junaid’s departure, Sahagir Hossain came on, but lasted only thirteen deliveries before the wicket-keeper batsman was caught by Imrul Kayes in a Rubel Hossain delivery.
The situation started to settle down for the BCB Green team after Naeem and Alok Kapalo took the charge. Building a 61-run partnership, Kapali got out scoring 29 runs before Nazmul Islam Apu trapped him for a LBW.
Number six batsman, Rokibul Hasan joined Naeem in the middle. But, in the 50th over Shurawardi Shuvo bowled Rokibul out with 18 runs to his name.
However, Naeem kept himself calm and carried on scoring for BCB Green. Supported by Mominul, the duo fetched 167 vital runs for their side.
The partnership was broken by BCB Red’s pacer Rubel Hossain in the 82nd over when he picked up Mominul’s wicket.
Shafiul and Rubel shraed two wickets each while Suhrawardi and Apu bagged one each for BCB Red.
