FATULLAH (Bangladesh): A brilliant Sabbir Rahman century guided the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) XI to a thrilling one-wicket victory over the visiting Pakistan in the one-day practice match in Fatullah on Wednesday.

The local squad reached their target with seven balls and a wicket to spare as they score 270-9 after 48.5 over in reply to 268 scored by the visitors at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium.

Sabbir was the star of the show as he made a belligerent 123 off just 99 balls with seven boundaries and eight sixes. Sohag Gazi made a good contribution in the late order with a good 36 off just 28 before Taijul Islam struck two boundaries in the penultimate over of the match to help his side reach home.

Earlier, Pakistan elected to bat first after new ODO captain Azhar Ali had won the toss, and posted a challenging total of 268-9 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez was the top-scorer for his side with a brisk innings of 85 from 79 balls (nine boundaries and four sixes).

Pakistan lost wickets in regular intervals after a 66-run opening stand between Hafeez and Azhar (27 off 49 balls, three fours).

But Fawad Alam stopped the rot with sensible batting and remained unbeaten on 67 from 58 balls with nine fours.

Shuvagata Hom was the most successful bowler for the BCB XI with three wickets for 39 runs in seven overs.

In reply, BCB XI lost the momentum losing three consecutive wickets after Shabbir and Imrul Kayes added 124 to keep the local side in the match.

Shabbir was gradually bringing the chase under control in partnership with Imrul. But then the middle order suddenly collapsed with Imrul, Shabbir and Shuvagata departing in two consecutive overs.

And when Sohag departed, the BCB XI needed 10 runs from 18 balls but Taijul Islam and Mohammad Shahid saw them home.

Pakistan spearhead Junaid Khan returned from a long injury layoff to claim four wickets for 38 runs in 9.5 overs.

Bangladesh and Pakistan begin a three-match One-day International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday. The remaining two one-dayers are also scheduled in Dhaka on April 19 and 22 before the two teams meet in the one-off Twenty20 International at the same venue on April 24.

The two-Test series will start in Khulna on April 28 with Dhaka hosting the final Test from May 6.

PAKISTAN:

Mohammad Hafeez c Muktar b Shuvagata 85 Azhar Ali c Litton Das b Muktar 27 Haris Sohail c Mominul b Shuvagata 23 Mohammad Rizwan b Shuvagata 18 Fawad Alam not out 67 Sarfraz Ahmed run out 6 Saad Nasim c Jubair b Shahid 1 Wahab Riaz c Shuvagata b Jubair 7 Asad Shafiq b Sohag 5 Yasir Shah b Taijul 9 Saeed Ajmal not out 16

EXTRAS (B-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 268

FALL OF WKTS: 1-66, 2-130, 3-145, 4-158, 5-168, 6-173, 7-185, 8-203, 9-228.

DID NOT BAT: Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali.

BOWLING: Al-Amin Hossain 9-1-42-0; Mohammad Shahid 9-0-34-1 (1w); Muktar Ali 7-0-40-1 (1w); Jubair Hussain 8-0-56-1; Shuvagata Hom 7-0-39-3; Taijul Islam 7-1-40-1; Sohag Gazi 3-0-16-1 (1w).

BANGLADESH CRICKET BOARD XI:

Tamim Iqbal lbw b Rahat 9 Rony Talukdar c Yasir b Junaid 0 Litton Das c Rizwan b Ajmal 22 Sabbir Rahman c Haris b Junaid 123 Mominul Haque lbw b Yasir 12 Imrul Kayes b Wahab 36 Shuvagata Hom c and b Junaid 5 Muktar Ali c Fawad b Rahat 1 Sohag Gazi b Junaid 36 Mohammad Shahid not out 12 Taijul Islam not out 6

EXTRAS (W-8) 8

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 48.5 overs) 270

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-9, 3-45, 4-81, 5-205, 6-213, 7-213, 8-228, 9-259.

DID NOT BAT: Al-Amin Hossain, Jubair Hossain.

BOWLING: Junaid Khan 9.5-2-38-4 (1w); Rahat Ali 9-1-54-2 (1w); Saeed Ajmal 8-0-45-1 (2w); Wahab Riaz 9-1-40-1 (1w); Azhar Ali 1-0-12-0; Haris Sohail 3-0-23-0 (1w); Yasir Shah 6-0-37-1 (1w); Saad Nasim 3-0-21-0.

RESULT: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI won by one wicket.

NOTE: players per side 13 (11 batting, 11 fielding).

UMPIRES: Enamul Haque and Sharfuddoula.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2015

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