Skipper Nurul Hasan and Mahidul Islam hit twin hundreds as Bangladesh ‘A’ beat their New Zealand counterparts by a comprehensive 87 runs in the second of the three-match one-day series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.Ìý
The win led Bangladesh ‘A’ to secure the series with one match remaining after winning the first one by seven wickets.Ìý
After being put into bat, the hosts posted a huge total of 344-7 in 50 overs thanks to Nurul’s 112 off 101 and Mahidul’s 105 off 108 balls. The visitors were then restricted to 257 in 43.1 overs despite opener Dale Phillip’s quickfire 79 off 54 balls.Ìý
Naim Sheikh (40 off 41) and Anamul Haque (39 off 34) gave Bangladesh ‘A’ a good start with their 71-run stand after opener Parvez Hossain fell early in the innings.Ìý
But the hosts were again in a spot of bother as the duo fell in quick succession to leave them at 97-3.Ìý
But Nurul stepped up to start the rebuilding process as he added a mammoth 225-run partnership off 193 balls.Ìý
‘We were talking and enjoying ourselves,’ Nurul later told the reporters. ‘He [Mahidul] batted really well. At the same time, Naim and Bijoy [Anamul] started very well for us. That’s why we started to believe that we could post a 300-plus total.’Ìý
Nurul reached his seventh List-A hundred in 92 balls, and he hit seven fours and sixes each in his innings.Ìý
Mahidul took 103 balls to reach the milestone, which was his fourth in List-A. He smashed seven fours and five sixes. Kristian Clarke took 2-71 for the visitors.
New Zealand ‘A’ got off to a brisk start in the run chase courtesy of Phillips, who’s the brother of New Zealand international Glenn Phillips.Ìý
He added 52 runs with opener Curtis Heaphy, where the latter contributed just five runs. Phillips continued to attack as he added a further 47 runs with Joe Carter.Ìý
After Shoriful Islam dismissed Phillips—who hit 14 fours and two sixes—in the 15th over, it all went downhill for the visitors as they lost four wickets for just 17 runs.Ìý
Josh Clarkson (34) and Mitchell Hay (38) held the bay for a period but couldn’t cope with the hosts’ attack.Ìý
Off-spinner Mosaddek Hossain claimed three wickets, while left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam and off-spinner Shamim Hossain each got two.Ìý
The third and final match of the series will be held at the same venue on May 10.
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