An unbeaten century by Yasir Ali steered Bangladesh A team to clinch the five-match unofficial ODI series 4-0 outplaying Ireland A team by 76 runs in the 5th and last match at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday.
After no result in the rain-effected first match, the 2nd string Bangladesh team made a good start in the series beating their Irish rivals by three wickets in the 2nd match, took a 2-0 lead outplaying them by eight wickets in the 3rd match and confirmed the series 3-0 with a four-wicket victory in the curtailed 20-over-a-side 4th match on Wednesday.
The 4th match was surprisingly reduced to 20-over-a-side as both the teams agreed to a shortened match as they did not want to play three one-dayers in as many days.
Sent into bat first in the day’s 5th and last match, Bangladesh A team scored a competitive total of 286 for 6 in stipulated 50 overs featuring an unconquered 102 runs by day’s man of the match Yasir Ali Chowdhury.
After the departure of national coloured opener Anamul Haque (13) and captain Nazmul Hossain Shanta (26)– for 57 runs in 14.1 overs, another opener Shadman Islam pairing with two down Yasir Ali contributed a polished 132 runs in the 3rd wicket stand to guide the team total to 189 runs from 57 runs.
Yasir Ali, a right handed batsman from Chittagong, hammered 102 runs off just 101 balls featuring eight fours and five sixes while Shadman Islam scored 103-ball 68 runs with the help of four fours and one six.
BJ McCarthy and SC Getkate claimed two wickets each conceding 45 and 63 runs respectively.
Chasing a target of 287 runs, the 2nd string Ireland team was all out for 210 runs in 43.4 overs with opener JB Tector contributing 66 runs off 80 balls with 10 hits to the fence.
Besides, J Anderson made 57-ball 45 runs hitting five fours and one six while BJ McCarthy quick-fired 20-ball 27 runs, featuring three boundaries.
Abu Hider Rony was the most successful among the Bangladesh bowler grabbing three wickets for 38 runs while Sunzamul Islam and Imran Ali took two wickets each conceding 28 and 46 runs respectively.
