17 July 2004	Saturday	28 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

COLOMBO, July 16: Bangladesh's bowlers saved their team from a major embarrassment as debutantes Hong Kong fought bravely before going down by 116 runs in the opening match of the six-nation Asia Cup here on Friday.

The Test-playing nation's experience proved vital as they bowled out Hong Kong for 105 after being themselves restricted to a modest 221-9 from 50 overs at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

Hong Kong raised visions of a close encounter before their batsmen failed to come to terms with some tight bowling. An early twin-strike by Mushfiqur Rahman reduced Hong Kong to 15-2 after which they struggled to play their stipulated 50 overs and were bowled out with almost five overs to go.

Abdur Razzaq was the most successful bowler taking 3-17. For Hong Kong, Tabarak Dar was the highest scorer with 20 and just four other batsmen got into double-figures.

Left-arm spinner Ilyas Gul was the pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong, returning a haul of 3-46. Gul, a 36-year-old of Pakistani origin, accounted for Rajin Saleh, Alok Kapali and Rahman and it took a resolute effort from opener Javed Omar (68) to give Bangladesh a respectable total.

Omar's fifth half-century came with four boundaries off 113 deliveries and he was involved in a useful 85-run second-wicket stand with Habibul Bashar (32).

Hong Kong put up a fine effort as seamers Afzaal Haider and Khalid Khan moved the new ball well and the spinners followed with a determined effort. Bangladesh were 95-1 before the spinners pegged them back, Gul removing Saleh and Kapali in successive overs and Rahman a little later.

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh

Javed Omar run out 68

Mohammad Ashraful c French b Haider 9

Habibul Bashar c Sharma b Aamer 32

Rajin Saleh c Smart b Gul 10

Alok Kapali lbw b Gul 2

Mushfiqur Rahman c Smart b Gul 18

Khaled Mashud c Aamer b Khalid Khan 26

Mohammad Rafique b French 3

Khaled Mahmud run out 22

Tapash Baisya not out 6

Abdur Razzaq not out 5

Extras (lb4, nb3, w13) 20

Total (for nine wickets) 221

Fall of wkts: 1-10, 2-95, 3-123, 4-127, 5-145, 6-167, 7-174, 8-198, 9-212

Bowling: Haider 8-1-31-1, Khalid Khan 8-1-31-1, Lamsam 4-0-20-0, Najeeb Aamer 10-2-38-1, French 10-0-51-1, Ilyas Gul 10-0-46-3

Hong Kong

T. Smart lbw b Razzaq 9

M. Cheruparambil b Rahman 0

A. French c and b Rahman 10

Tabarak Dar lbw b Mahmud 20

R. Lamsam c Mashud b Mahmud 8

R. Sharma c Mashud b Rafique 10

Ilyas Gul c Rafique b Razzaq 16

Najeeb Aamer run out 0

S. Lama not out 16

Afzaal Haider lbw b Razzaq 0

Khalid Khan c Mashud b Rafique 3

Extras (lb3, nb1, w9) 13

Total 105

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-15, 3-38, 4-49, 5-65, 6-65, 7-67, 8-96, 9-98.

Bowling: Baisya 8-2-21-0, Rahman 8-3-21-2, Razzaq 9-2-17-3, Mahmud 7-2-17-2, Rafique 9.2-3-21-2, Kapali 4-1-5-0. -AFP