Emerging team earn hard-fought draw against South Africa

Mahidul Islam Ankon, Aminul Islam Biplob and Nayeem Hasan showed great resistance as Bangladesh emerging team earned a hard-fought draw in the opening four-day match of their two-match series against South Africa emerging team in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

Resuming their second innings at 15-0 and needing 396 more runs to win on the final day, Bangladesh were in deep trouble after losing five wickets for just 70 runs. However, Ankon and Biplob steadied the innings with a 105-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

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Biplob was eventually dismissed for 74 off 147 balls, but Ankon and Nayeem then added an unbeaten 69 runs for the seventh wicket to take Bangladesh to 244-6 before both teams agreed to a draw.

Ankon remained unbeaten on 48 from 208 balls, while Nayeem made an unbeaten 49 off 79 deliveries.

Earlier, South Africa emerging had declared their second innings at 130-4 on day three, setting Bangladesh a daunting target of 411 after bowling them out for 239 in the first innings.

South Africa emerging had earlier piled up 519-5d in their first innings, with captain van Buuren scoring 171 and Seletswane remaining unbeaten on 150.

The second four-day match will begin at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday.