DARWIN (Australia), July 13: Bangladesh recorded their second win from three matches on tour in Australia when they scraped past a Northern Territory XI by two wickets on Sunday.
Set 187 for victory, Bangladesh recovered from a late batting collapse to reach their target just after lunch on the fourth and final day which they had begun on 90 for four.
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said the result would help raise the team’s confidence before Friday’s first Test against Australia.
The former Sri Lanka coach has already conceded his team have no real prospect of upsetting Steve Waugh’s all-conquering side but said the way his team batted under pressure was an encouraging sign.
“I think there’s clear evidence in this innings that we weren’t (giving) our wickets to them,” Whatmore said.
“That’s the way we have got to go. We have got to work hard and do the hard things rather than go for that easy option of trying to hit your way out of trouble.”
Opener Javed Omar made 44 and middle-order batsman Al-Shahriar Rokon 41 to put the tourists on course for victory before they lost three wickets for three runs.
Tailenders Khaled Mahmud (12 not out) and Mashrafe bin Mortaza (4 not out) eventually steered them safely past the target.
“They played very well and to be honest, they deserved to win in the end,” Northern Territory captain Michael Clarke said.
Scoreboard
NORTHERN TERRITORY CM XI (1st Innings) 189 (M.J. Clarke 79).
BANGLADESH (1st Innings) 139.
NORTHERN TERRITORY (2nd Innings) 136.
BANGLADESH (2nd Innings, overnight 90-4):
Hannan Sarkar lbw b Dent 12
Javed Omar lbw b McAdam 44
Habibul Bashar st Treumer b M.A. Hatton 12
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b McAdam 11
Khaled Mashud c Treumer b Hauritz 12
Al-Shahriar c and b Clarke 41
Alok Kapali lbw b B.J. Hatton 18
Khaled Mahmud not out 12
Mohammad Rafique c Skewes b Hauritz 0
Mashrafe bin Mortaza not out 4
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-8, W-9) 21
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 84 overs) 187
FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-62, 3-89, 4-90, 5-122, 6-167, 7-167, 8-175.