Bangladesh A suffer close defeat

After Bangladesh A ended the third day of their second four-day match against West Indies A in Sylhet with a 166-run lead, there was a glimmer of hope as they still had four wickets to go and any lead beyond 200 would be a tricky target for the visitors.

However, Bangladesh only managed to 23 runs to their overnight total of 274-6, meaning the target set for the Caribbeans was 190, which, after some initial hobbling, they managed to go past with three wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead.

Bangladesh started the day with Irfan Sukkur at the crease on 64 with Nayeem Hasan on 14.

Their partnership, till then, had added crucial 65 runs but could only add 13 more before Nayeem was dismissed by Jair McAllister on 17.

Within the next 10 runs, the remaining three wickets fell too. Tanzim Hasan Sakib (4) was sent back by Kevin Oswald Sinclair, and the same bowler got rid of Irfan on 72 to pick up his fifth wicket of the innings.

McAllister brought an end to the Bangladesh innings when he dismissed Syed Khaled Ahmed as they were bowled out for 297, continuing on their failure of reaching 300 in

this series.

Chasing 190, the Caribbeans were rocked early on as Nayeem got Kirk McKenzie (12) in the sixth over.

Raymon Reifer added 27 runs for the second wicket with Tagenarine Chanderpaul but had to return for 22 as he gave a return catch to Saif Hasan.

Saif then struck again to get rid of Chanderpaul (22), and left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam’s double strike saw Alick Steven caught behind on four and then Keacy Carty trapped LBW on two.

That brought Bangladesh back in the game again as West Indies still needed 120 runs with half their side down.

However, that hope was vanquished soon as West Indies skipper Joshua Da Silva added 76 runs with Brandon King for the sixth wicket as the latter picked up a fifty.

King could only add four runs after reaching his fifty before Tanvir got the better of him but the damage was done by then, and even though the left-arm spinner got Oswald for four soon after, Joshua ensured that the Caribbeans’ winning chances did not perish.

He added 41 runs with Akeem Jordan for the eighth wicket and hit a six and a four off Nayeem to ensure the win as he stayed unbeaten on 47.

Oswald was named Player of the Match as he picked up seven wickets in the match, including his five-wicket haul in the second innings.

Bangladesh A squad for third match

Zakir Hasan, Saif Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Irfan Sukkur, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Naeem Hasan, Mushfique Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mominul Haque, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Nasum Ahmed, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury