Mushfiq hits fifty in WC preparation

Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim struck an unbeaten fifty for Bangladesh A team in their first one-day match against the Bangladesh High-Performance side at Chattogram in his bout for preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman.

Mushfiq scored 70 off 91 deliveries as his side chased down the target of 248 set by HP with six wickets and 13 balls in hand.

Mushfiq, who struggled with the bat during Bangladesh’s five-match Twenty20 international series against New Zealand, decided to play in the first two matches of the four-match one-day series between the A and HP team to prepare for the World Cup.

Mushfiq had only scored 39 runs in five matches, averaging 13. His highest score was 20, which he scored off 37 deliveries.

To find his rhythm back, Mushfiq already worked with childhood coach Nazmul Abedeen Fahim at BKSP before coming to play for the A team.

Batting first, the HP side put up a total of 247 courtesy of fifties from opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Shahadat Hossain.

Chasing 248, Mushfiq came in after the dismissal of A team skipper Mominul Haque for 29.

Mushfiq struggled at the beginning of his innings as at one point of his innings, the batsman was on six runs from 25 deliveries.

But once he was at the crease, the batsman started to play his shots as he went on to reach his fifty off 71 deliveries.

Mushfiq put together three important partnerships during the chase with Imrul Kayes, Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Mithun. His third-wicket stand with Imrul produced 59 runs, whereas his partnership with Mosaddek produced 44 runs.

His fifth-wicket stand with Mithun of 56 runs took the A team home as they sealed a six-wicket victory. Mushfiq stayed unbeaten on 70, an innings where he hit six fours and one six.

Besides Mushfiq, Imrul also picked up a fifty as he scored 60 off 81 deliveries. Mosaddek scored 24 off 31 deliveries whereas Mithun stayed unbeaten on 28 off just 23 deliveries.

Three other members of Bangladesh’s World Cup squad- Shamim Hossain, Rubel Hossain and Aminul Islam Biplob were part of the match.

Shamim and Biplob played for the HP side, whereas Rubel featured for the A team.

Shamim could only score eight off 12 deliveries, and Biplob, picked as a travelling reserve for the World Cup, also scored eight.

Both of them went on to pick up a wicket each as Shamim dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto, whereas Biplob dismissed Imrul.

Rubel, who is also a travelling reserve in the World Cup squad, picked up two wickets for 32 runs as he dismissed Shahadat and Biplob.

The other noticeable performances in the match were from HP’s Tanzid and Shahadat. Tanzid scored 81 off 93 deliveries, with Shahadat scoring 51 off 64 deliveries.

Mushfiq, Shamim and Biplob will also play in the second match of the series on Thursday. After that, they will leave for Dhaka to join the national team who will leave for Oman ahead of the World Cup on October 1.

Bangladesh will leave for Oman ahead of the World Cup on October 3. The Tigers will take part in a couple of warm-up games against Sri Lanka and Ireland before facing Scotland in their first match of the World Cup against Scotland on October 17.