Opening batsman Saif Hassan’s century guided hosts Bangladesh Emerging Team to register their second win against Ireland A in the five-match unofficial ODI series at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Tuesday. Hosts defeated the visitors by six wickets and lead the series 2-0. The first match of the series was abandoned as one of the players was found covid-19 positive.
Hosts openers Saif and Tanzid Hasan compiled 44 runs on the board en route to chase 260 before the latter was dismissed for 17. Saif however, held to one end of the crease as the right handed batsman scored 120 runs and put up two 50 plus runs stand, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy for the second and Towhid Hridoy for the fourth wicket, before falling as the fourth batsman in the Bangladesh Emerging Team innings. In the 125-ball innings, Saif found 11 boundaries and five sixes before being trapped in front of the wickets leaving his side on 195 for four.
Towhid and Shamim, who remained not out on 43 and 44 respectively, did the rest with an unbeaten 69-run stand that took the team to shore. Irish leg-spinner Gareth Delany picked two wickets to lead the away team bowlers.
Earlier, the visitors were sent to bat first and the tourists posted 260 runs on the board losing seven wickets. Wicket-keeper batsman Lorcan Tucker remained unbeaten on 82 off 52 deliveries involving nine boundaries and two over boundaries. Opener James McCollum was retried hurt on 40 while middle order batsman Curtis Campher added 43 runs to the tally with four boundaries and one six.
Right-arm pacer Mukidul Islam bagged three wickets while Sumon Khan and Towhid picked a scalp each to their name for the hosts.
The fourth match of the series will be played at the same venue on Friday.
