Rain helps GP-BCB Academy to draw against SA Academy in 1st 4-day match

---

CHITTAGONG, Apr 25 (UNB): Rain helped GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team to make a draw against touring Standard Bank National Cricket Academy team of South Africa on the 4th and final day of the first four-day match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here Sunday.
Chasing a huge target of 395 runs in the 2nd innings, the hosts GP-BCB Academy team resumed the innings today at 2:30 pm, four and half hours behind the schedule due to rain, with overnight 145 for 3 and finally scored 250 for 9 in 75 overs at stumps on the last day.
Earlier, South Africa Academy team posted 371 runs in the first innings and 274 runs in the 2nd innings giving a challenging target for the home side after dismissing them for 251 in the first innings on Friday.
Shubhagoto Hom, who resumed batting with 24 runs, contributed team highest 74 runs off 133 balls that featured eleven boundaries while another night-watch batsman Mahmudul Hasan (31) scored useful 55 runs off 72 balls with nine fours.
K Maharaj, who grabbed one wicket on Saturday, today finished with four wickets for 62 runs while O Pienaar and G Vrich took two wickets each for 35 and 25 runs respectively.
GP-BCB Academy's opening batsman, who scored a century in the first innings and made a half century in the 2nd innings, was named man of the match along with all rounder K Maharaj of South Africa Academy team.
Brief score: South Africa Academy - 371 all out in 77.2 overs (1st innings); 2nd innings - 274 all out in 82. 2 overs, Y. Yallie 82, T Bodbe 48, D Pienaar 31, A Birch 21, K. Zondo 21, Saqlain Sajib 4/91, Tanvir Haider 3/43.
GP-BCB Academy - 251 all out in 67.1 overs (1st innings), 2nd innings -250 for 9 in 75 overs (overnight 145 for 3 in 37 overs); Shubhagoto Hom 74, Ronny Talukder 58, Mahmudul Hasan 55, Mohammad Mithun 26, Sabbir Rahman 14, K Maharaj 4/62, G Vrich 2/25 and O Pienaar 2/39.