Skipper Nurul Hasan struck a century, but Bangladesh ‘A’ ended the second day still trailing their New Zealand counterparts by seven runs in their four-day match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Nurul smashed 107 off 88 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes, to guide the hosts to 249-8 at stumps in reply to New Zealand’s 256.
Hasan Murad and Ebadot Hossain were unbeaten on 13 and one run, respectively.
Bangladesh wrapped up the visitors in just 11.2 overs in the morning session. Right-arm pacer Khaled Ahmed, who took four wickets on the opening day, removed both the overnight batters Mitchell Hay (81 off 134) and Kristian Clarke (28 off 59) to complete his six-wicket haul and finish with a figure of 6-59.
Bangladesh started off well as they posted 30 without loss in seven overs before rain halted the game. Following the delay, they lost wickets rapidly, eventually finding themselves at 81-4 at one point.
Anamul Haque made 24 in 37, and Amite Hasan added 25 before falling to Kristian Clarke and Muhammad Abbas (2-42), respectively.
Clarkson then appeared on the stage, removing Mahmudul Hasan Joy (18) to dismantle the top-order.
Nurul, who reached his hundred in 74 deliveries, single-handedly steadied their innings by adding a 132-run partnership with Mahidul Islam Ankon, who contributed 25 runs.
Bangladesh’s batting faltered again when Clarkson broke the partnership by dismissing Mahidul, and Clarke got Nurul in the next over to leave the hosts on 215-6.
Nurul’s innings featured eleven boundaries and five sixes.
Nayeem Hasan chipped in 20 runs lower down the order before Clarkson, who finished with 4-44, struck again while Clarke (2-76) took two wickets.
