BD A continue dismal showing

The Bangladesh A team, featuring a number of players selected for the Tigers' three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, succumbed to a four-wicket defeat against their Afghan counterparts in the second of five one-dayers at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.

This is their second consecutive loss against the same opposition, who registered a 10-wicket win in the previous match. 

The presence of veteran cricketers like Imrul Kayes, Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Mohammad Mithun, Forhad Reza and juniors such as Afif Hossain, Abu Hider and Abu Jayed almost gave the side a national B team vibe. However, Afghanistan A hammered them yet again.

After being asked to bat, Imrul (40) and Anamul (26) provided a bright start before Mithun, who scored a team-high 94-ball 85, and Mohammad Naim strung together a 97-run third-wicket stand. Naim (49) fell short of a fifty while Mithun departed soon after. Sabbir struck 35 runs off 38 balls as Bangladesh A posted 278 for nine.

Afghan opener Ibrahim Zadran struck a magnificent 149-ball 127, laced with seven fours and seven sixes, to see his side coast to a four-wicket win. Aside from 24-year-old spinner Mahedi Hasan, who conceded 34 runs in his 10 overs, all the other Bangladesh A bowlers went taken for runs. Shafiul Islam took two wickets while Abu Jayed and Hider bagged one each. 

Forhad, Shabbir, Mithun and Anamul will depart for Sri Lanka today to join the rest of the Tigers' squad while Taijul Islam and speedsters Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed rendezvoused with the squad yesterday.

Scores in brief

Bangladesh A: 278 for 9 in 50 overs (Imrul 40, Anamul 26, Mithun 85, Naim 49, Sabbir 35; Janat 3-43, Niazai 3-48)

Afghanistan A: 281 for 6 in 49.1 overs (Gurbaz 21, Zadran 127, Ghani 26, Janat 24, Ashraf 36 not out; Shafiul 2-59)

Result: Afghanistan A won by 4 wickets.