Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal returned to competitive cricket with a brilliant century, scoring 107 off 73 deliveries for BCB XI against the West Indians in their lone practice match at BKSP Ground 3 in Savar Thursday.
Play was called off early due to bad light with Bangladesh on 314/6 after 41 overs, chasing 332, and the host were victorious by 51 runs via the D/L method.
No 3 batsman Soumya Sarkar also struck a superb unbeaten century to finish the game high for BCB XI.
Captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza was unbeaten on 22 at the other end.
Chasing 332, BCB XI openers Tamim and Imrul Kayes made a flying start.
The left-handed duo added 81 in just 8.5 overs before Imrul lost his wicket to Roston Chase.
Imrul scored 27 off 25 deliveries with five boundaries.
Hope hopes for better performance in ODI’s https://t.co/FJdBJ4AD8Y#WestIndies are eyeing a fresh start in the ODI series after losing the #Test series against hosts #Bangladesh 2-0.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 5, 2018
Tamim was brilliant from the beginning and played his natural shots all over the park.
Tamim continued to dominate the West Indies bowling, even after losing his opening partner, and formed a 114-run partnership with Soumya.
Tamim’s fluent and confident batting was a treat to watch for spectators at BKSP as the left-hander played his first match after two-and-a-half months due to an injury he incurred in the Asia Cup, earlier this year in September in the UAE.
Tamim struck 13 fours and four huge sixes in his 107-run innings, before being stumped by Windies spinner Chase in the fifth ball of the 25th over.
BCB XI then lost some quick wickets in the middle of the innings as Mohammad Mithun (five) and Ariful Haque (21) could not mange to score big.
But Soumya was magnificent at the other end, and played some delightful strokes.
Soumya stitched together a 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Mashrafe.
Focus on Mashrafe, Tamim in practice match against Windies https://t.co/0t3He9sOe5
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 5, 2018
After completing a historic 2-0 #Test series win against visitors #WestIndies, the #Bangladesh camp shifts gears to the shorter format with the #ODI series looming.
With the light going off quickly in the winter afternoon at BKSP, both teams agreed to call the play off at that time.
Soumya’s brilliant innings consisted of seven fours and six sixers.
He reached his century by hitting a gigantic six, pulling a short ball to deep square-leg against West Indies pacer Kemar Roach.
It was consecutive centuries for Soumya at this ground as he also scored a ton against Zimbabwe during a practice match prior to the Zimbabwe ODI series back in October this year.
Meanwhile, Mashrafe also scored a cameo innings in the late order and remained unbeaten on 22 off 18 balls with two fours and a six.
Earlier, the Windies elected to bowl first.
West Indies openers formed a brilliant opening stand as they scored 101 in 15 overs.
#Mashrafe focused on series, not on election https://t.co/WESilx2Whj
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 4, 2018
Spinner Nazmul Islam Apu made the first breakthrough in the 16th over by taking the wicket of Kieran Powell (43 off 49 balls).
Spinners checked the run rate in the middle part as at one stage, the West Indies were 176 for the loss of five wickets after the 32nd over.
Shimron Hetmyer continued his form from the Test series, playing an aggressive knock of 33 off 27 balls.
A late charge lifted the West Indies in the slog overs as they eventually posted a challenging 332 on the board losing eight wickets in their stipulated 50 overs.
Shai Hope was the top-scorer with 81 while Chase and Fabian Allen made 65 and 48 respectively.
Mashrafe bowled in two spells and finished with bowling figure of 8-1-37-1.
Rubel Hossian, Mehedi Hasan Rana and Nazmul Islam took two wickets each for BCB XI.
Walsh: Not end of road for pacers https://t.co/I6h4DZ4Mjx#Bangladesh pace bowling coach Courtney #Walsh believes playing four seamers in home conditions against West Indies does not indicate that pacers will not be given importance in #Test matches.
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 3, 2018
The first ODI between Bangladesh and West Indies will take place at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Sunday.
WEST INDIANS R B
Powell c Imrul b Nazmul 43 49
Hope st Akbar b Nazmul 81 84
Bravo c Akbar b Mehedi 24 33
Samuels c Mehedi b Mashrafe 5 12
Hetmyer c Soumya b Rubel 33 27
Rovman c Akbar b Shamim 0 5
Chase not out 65 51
Allen lbw b Rubel 48 32
Paul c Hridoy b Mehedi 2 4
Ambris not out 10 9
Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 13) 20
Total (50 Overs) 331/8
Fall Of Wickets
1-101 (Powell), 2-159 (Bravo), 3-167 (Hope), 4-175 (Samuels), 5-176 (Rovman), 6-215 (Hetmyer), 7-293 (Allen), 8-296 (Paul)
Bowling
Rubel 10-0-55-2, Mashrafe 8-1-37-1, Mehedi 10-0-65-2, Sahin 2-0-18-0, Soumya 8-0-72-0, Nazmul 10-0-61-2, Shamim 2-0-16-1
BCB XI R B
Tamim st Hope b Chase 107 73
Imrul c Hetmyer b Chase 27 25
Soumya not out 103 83
Mithun c Bravo b Bishoo 5 14
Ariful c & b Bishoo 21 18
Hridoy b Allen 0 5
Shamim b Thomas 9 12
Mashrafe not out 22 18
Extras (lb 9, nb 2, w 9) 20
Total (41 Overs) 314/6
Fall Of Wickets
1-81 (Imrul), 2-195 (Tamim), 3-202 (Mithun), 4-233 (Ariful), 5-234 (Hridoy), 6-265 (Shamim)
Bowling
Roach 5-0-49-0, Thomas 7-0-57-1, Chase 10-0-57-2, Paul 4-0-42-0, Bishoo 10-0-81-2, Allen 5-0-19-1
BCB XI won by 51 runs (D/L method)
