Nurul Hasan and Robiul Islam’s valiant last-wicket partnership and a brilliant hundred from opener Imrul Kayes guided the visiting Bangladesh A side to a draw against Sagicor High Performance Centre in the second and final four-day match at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday. The second-string side however lost the four-day series as they succumbed to a convincing 351-run defeat in the first four-dayer.
The last-wicket pair of Nurul and Robiul survived 25 intense minutes before the conclusion of the fourth and final day’s play as the visitors were on the verge of losing the game before the duo managed to prevent the Sagicor bowlers from taking the last wicket. Bangladesh A eventually finished their second innings on 242 for nine wickets in 102 overs.
The Bangladesh A side resumed the fourth day with 32 runs on the board for three wickets with Imrul the only batsman who displayed some resistance and at the same time played some gorgeous shots. This was Imrul’s eighth first-class hundred as the left-hander bludgeoned 15 boundaries and two sixes.
Shuvagata Hom provided support to the left hander as the pair added 89 runs for the sixth wicket. Although, things were not looking bright when Imrul was finally dismissed after his hard-fought 112 off 247 deliveries while Shuvagata also departed following his 153-ball 39.
The Bangladesh A side were on the threshold of another humiliating defeat as captain Nasir Hossain was out without troubling the scorers. Wicket-keeper-batsman Nurul and Robiul though managed to survive the last 28 balls of the day.
Sagicor earlier posted 354 all out in their first innings after deciding to bat first. In reply, Bangladesh A conceded a first-innings lead of 135 runs as they were bundled out for 219.
The home side scored an identical 354 for five wickets in their second innings before declaring to give the visitors a target of 489 runs.
