June 25, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 20, 1429

LAHORE, June 24: A captain’s knock from Mohammad Ashraful guided Bangladesh to a mammoth 300 for eight against the United Arab Emirates in the Group ‘A’ opening match of the Asia Cup limited-overs tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.

Ashraful, who had struck his first One-day International century against Australia in 2005, held the innings together with two fine partnerships, as Bangladesh posted a huge 300-8 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Ashraful set the pace for the big target after opener Nazimuddin (2) was removed by main strike bowler Zahid Shah, caught by Arshad Ali at the total of 12.

Ashraful held his composure to build the innings. First with Tamim Iqbal, Ashraful added 95 runs off 125 balls for the second wicket stand. Tamim was unluckily run out due to a fine effort by wicket-keeper Amjad Ali who received a fine throw from Vikrant Shetty.

Tamim made 40 off 66 balls with two boundaries.

Ashraful, however, stood to his ground and found another reliable ally in Raqibul Hassan. But despite being set, they failed to speed up the run-rate as they crossed the 200-mark in 38.1 overs.

However, soon after crossing the mark, they tried to up the run-rate and collected 48 runs off 39 balls but at 248 Raqibul lofted Zahid, who finished with three for 49 but only to give the wicket-keeper a fine catch. He scored a fine 83 off just 63 balls, laced with nine boundaries as the fine third-wicket partnership of 141 off 122 balls was not ended but also triggered a batting collapse.

Soon, a well-set Ashraful was run out by Amjad for a 126-ball 109. He cracked eight fours. As Bangladesh looked strong with the score of 250-4, the next batsmen tried to hit hard and lost quick wickets. Lok Kapali (1), and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (3), lost wicket cheaply as Bangladesh were cut to 257-6 in 45.3 overs.

Dolar Mahmud (20, run out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (16) did good efforts to give final touches to the innings. Dolar also hit the lone six of the innings, besides cracking a four.

Though Zahid proved a rather economic bowler, leg spinner Khurrum Khan cost 78 runs for two wickets.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Tamim Iqbal run out 40

Nazimuddin c Arshad b Shah 2

Mohammad Ashraful run out 109

Raqibul Hasan c Amjad b Shah 83

Alok Kapali c and b Khurrum 1

Mashrafe Mortaza c Khurrum b Shah 3

Mahmudullah Riyad not out 8

Mushfiqur Rahim st Amjad b Khurrum 16

Dolar Mahmud run out 20

EXTRAS: (LB-2, W-16) 18

TOTAL: (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 300

DID NOT BAT: Abdur Razzak, Shahdat Hossain.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-107, 3-248, 4-250, 5-252, 6-257, 7-278, 8-300.

BOWLING: Shah 10-0-49-3 (8w); Alhashmi 5-1-21-0 (5w); Javed 2-0-24-0; Tauqir 3-0-6-0; Silva 7-0-33-0; Saqib 3-0-13-0 (1w); Khurrum 10-0-78-2 (2w); Arshad 10-0-74-0.

UAE: Saqib Ali (captain), Mohammad Tauqir, Arshad Ali, Khurram Khan, Zahid Shah, Amjad Ali, Fahad Alhashmi, Shadeep Silva, Amjad Javed, Vikrant Shetty, Indika Batuwitarachchi

UMPIRES: Simon Taufel (Australia) and Ian Gould (England).

TV UMPIRE: Zameer Haider (Pakistan)

MATCH REFEREE: Mike Procter (South Africa).