Sports Reporter :
A splendid century by Sabbir Rahman helped Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI to win a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan National Cricket team in the lone practice one-dayer match at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Futullah on Wednesday.
Sabbir Rahman hit a marvellous 123 from 99 balls featuring eight sixes and seven fours.
Chasing Pakistan’s fighting score of 268 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 50 overs, BCB XI reached the winning target making 270 for the loss of nine wickets when they had just seven balls to spare.
Bangladesh made a disastrous start as they lost their early four wickets for 81 runs.
Then Sabbir Rahman and Imrul Kayes rescued their team from danger contributing together 124 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Imrul Kayes was cleanly bowled out by Wahab Riaz when Bangladesh’s total was 205 for the loss five wickets.
Later, Sohag Gazi hit a fine 36 off 28 balls including four fours and a sixer while Imrul Kayes made a steady 36 from 56 balls with one fours.
Pacer Junaid Khan was the peak of the Pakistani bowlers who captured four wickets at the cost of 38 runs.
Rahat Ali was the other notable wicket taker for the visitors. He bagged a pair of wickets conceding 54 runs.
Besides, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan had a solid start as Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali, the two openers of the touring side put on together 66 runs before Azhar Ali was caught by Liton Das off Muktar Ali.
After dismissal of Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail added together 64 runs in the second wicket stand before Haris Sohail was caught by Mominul Haque off Shuvagata Hom when Pakistan’s score was 130 for the loss of two wickets.
Later, Pakistani batsmen failed to make any notable partnership.
Mohammad Hafeez notched up a superb 85 from 79 balls hitting four over boundaries and nine boundaries while Fawad Alam remained unbeaten with 67. His 58-ball innings was laced with nine fours.
Shuvagata Hom claimed three wickets instead of 39 runs while Sohag Gazi, Mohammad Shahid, Muktar Ali, Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain took one wicket each for 16, 34, 40, 40 and 56 runs respectively.
