KIMBERLEY (South Africa), Nov 17: Opening batsman Imrul Kayes and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim were in good form as Bangladesh had the better of the two-day match against the South African Airways Challenge XI at the Diamond Oval on Sunday.
Bangladesh scored 375 in their only innings, a lead of 110. The Challenge XI were 74 for two in their second innings when the match ended in a draw.
The left-handed Imrul, 21, put himself in line for a first Test cap with an innings of 86. Imrul, who toured South Africa with the Bangladesh Academy team earlier in the year, made his runs off 150 balls and hit 15 fours.
The first of two Tests against South Africa starts in Bloemfontein Wednesday.
Mushfiqur stroked his way to 89 off 124 balls with 16 fours as the tourists secured a solid lead on the first innings in their only warm-up game ahead of the Test series. Bangladesh were beaten 2-0 in the one-day series against South Africa.
Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful made a typically dashing 48 off 50 balls with nine fours.
Left-arm medium-pacer Mthokozisi Shezi was the most successful bowler for the Challenge XI, made up of amateur players, taking four for 42.
Scoreboard
SA AIRWAYS CHALLENGE XI (1st Innings) 265 (D.J. van Wyk 87, A.J. Seymore 75).
BANGLADESH (1st Innings, overnight 92-2):
Tamim Iqbal b Shezi 34
Imrul Kayes c Swan b Shezi 86
Junaid Siddique c Bossenger b Shezi 0
M. Ashraful c Bossenger b Mbane 48
Mehrab Hossain Jr c Swan b Shezi 8
Shakib Al Hasan c Seymore b Pietersen 19
Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Pietersen 89
Naeem Islam c Zondo b Swan 33
Raqibul Hasan run out 12
Shahadat Hossain c Mbane b Carolus 14
Mahbubul Alam not out 0
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-13, W-3, NB-11) 32
TOTAL (all out, 83.3 overs) 375
FALL OF WKTS: 1-51, 2-51, 3-164, 4-174, 5-199, 6-220, 7-336, 8-361, 9-375.
DID NOT BAT: Nazmul Hossain.
BOWLING: Pietersen 23-2-100-2 (1nb, 1w); Carolus 18.3-3-70-1; Shezi 12-3-42-4 (1w); Swanepoel 9-1-46-0; Mbane 14-1-61-1; Adams 4-0-26-0 (10nb); Swan 3-0-12-1 (1w).
SA AIRWAYS CHALLENGE XI (2nd Innings):
D.J. van Wyk c Mushfiqur b Shahadat 27
J.A. Beukes not out 23
K. Zondo c Mehrab b Shahadat 0
A.J. Seymore not out 14
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6) 10
TOTAL (for two wkts, 19 overs) 74
FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-46.
BOWLING: Shahadat Hossain 4-0-19-2; Mahbubul Alam 4-1-18-0; Nazmul Hossain 5-0-19-0; Junaid Siddique 1-1-0-0-0; Naeem Islam 3-3-0-0; Mehrab Hossain Jr 2-0-8-0.
RESULT: Match drawn.—AFP