Sabbir ton helps BCB XI earn win over Pakistan

A brilliant century by national all-rounder Sabbir Rahman enabled Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI to earn an exciting one-wicket victory over touring Pakistan team in the lone one-day warm-up match at the Khan Shahed Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah Wednesday, reports UNB.

Pakistani new one-day captain Azhar Ali decided to bat first after winning the toss and piled up a fighting total of 268 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs, featuring 66 runs in the opening stand by Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali.

Reliable opener Mohammad Hafeez scored the team highest 85 runs off 79 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes; middle order Fawad Alam scored an unconquered 58-ball 67 runs with nine fours while skipper Azhar Ali made 49-ball 27 runs with three fours.

Besides, one down Haris Sohail scored 29-ball 23 runs including one four and one six, Mohammad Rizwan made 22-ball 18 runs hitting three fours and tail-ender batsman cum spinner Saeed Ajmal remained not out on 16 runs off 12 balls hitting three boundaries.

Shuvagata Hom was the most successful among the Bangladeshi bowlers grabbing three wickets of Mohammed Hafeez, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Rizwan conceding 39 runs in seven overs while Shohag Gazi, Mohammad Shahid, Taijul Islam, Muktar Ali and Jubair Hossain took one wicket each.

Chasing a target of 269 runs, BCB Eleven scored the match-winning 270 runs for 9 in 85.5 overs and earned moral boost-up ahead of the three-match ODI series (against Pakistan) beginning on Friday (April 17) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

BCB Eleven faced an initial batting collapse losing top four wickets - Tamim Iqbal (9), Rony Talukder (0), Liton Das (22) and skipper Mominul Haque (12) --- for 81 runs in 18.2 overs, but Sabbir Rahman pairing with Imrul Kayes, in the 5th wicket stand, repaired the early damage.

Sabbir Rahman, one of the Tigers' good performers in the recently concluded ICC World Cup Cricket, came to bat in number four, hammered an entertaining century scoring 123 runs off just 99 balls featuring seven fours and eight sixes.

Opener Imrul Kayes, who went down six in batting line-up, scored a patient 36 runs off 56 balls with a boundary while all rounder Shohag Gazi made a quick 28-ball 36 runs with four fours and a six and left the Bangladesh in trouble with scoreboard showing 259 for 9 in 46.5 overs.

But sensible batting by two tail-enders Mohammad Shahid (not out 12) and Taijil Islam (not out 6) guided the team toward victory adding 11 runs in the 10th wicket stand.

Junaid Khan claimed four Bangladesh wickets for 38 runs, Rahat Ali bagged two wickets for 54 runs while spinner Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah took one wicket each.