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Ton-up Mahmudul helps Bangladesh A draw last game

  • Sports Correspondent
  • 3 June, 2023 12:00 AM
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Ton-up Mahmudul helps Bangladesh A draw last game
Bangladesh A opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy celebrates his hundred during the last day of the final unofficial Test against West Indies A team in Sylhet on Friday. –BCB PHOTO

A brilliant unbeaten hundred by Mahmudul Hasan Joy helped Bangladesh A team draw the third and last unofficial Test against West Indies A team at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Mahmudul struck a dogged 114 off 268 balls while Yasir Ali and Zakir Hasan also made decent contributions of 67 and 43 runs respectively as Bangladesh A scored 306-4 in their second innings on the final day of the four-day contest.

Despite the stalemate result in the last encounter, the hosts lost the three-match series by a 0-1 margin after they suffered a three-wicket defeat in the second game at the same venue. The opening four-day match ended in a draw.

Bangladesh A team needed a monumental task to complete as they required 414 runs more to win the contest after they resumed at 47-0 on the final day.

Overnight unbeaten batsmen Mahmudul and Zakir batted more than 17 overs in the first session before the latter was dismissed by Kevin Sinclair which ended a 93-run opening stand.

Veteran Mominul Haque failed to make his mark once again as he departed cheaply after making only five runs.

However, Mahmudul continued his good work with the bat and shared two crucial stands of 53 and 117 runs respectively with Saif Hassan (38) and Yasir to help Bangladesh A avoid defeat in the contest.

Shahadat Hossain Dipu remained not out on 20 as both teams agreed on a draw result after 77.1 overs’ play on the final day. Sinclair finished with 3-94 for the visiting side.

Mahmudul, who struck 14 fours in his innings, was adjudged player of the match.

“Usually fourth day wicket produces turn. But the wicket was good today. It was challenging because it was last day and they also had quality bowlers,” Mahmudul said after the match.

“The confidence has increased to a great level after scoring hundred. So I’m very happy,” he added. 

Bangladesh A earlier were bowled out for 205 runs in their first innings while replying to West Indies A’s 445 runs. The visitors then declared their second innings at 220-5 to set a target of 461 runs for the hosts.