Sohan’s six-laden 49 and fifties from Liton, Naim help BD XI win big

Openers Mohammad Naim and Liton Das struck fifties while Nurul Hasan Sohan played an explosive unbeaten cameo that helped Bangladesh XI register a convincing 60-run victory today over Oman A in the Tigers' unofficial warm-up game ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

After being sent to bat, Bangladesh XI piled up a total of 207 for four before restricting Oman A to 147 for nine at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground. 

Liton captained the Tigers in absence of regular skipper Mahmudullah Riyad, who was rested for this game. Regular starters like pacer Mustafizur Rahman and premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan also did not participate as they have been fulfilling their IPL commitments. Pacer Taskin Ahmed was also rested for today's game. 

Liton and Naim gave Bangladesh XI a blistering start, scoring around 10 an over as the pair brought up 100 inside just 11 overs. Liton, who brought up his fifty off just 32 deliveries, played more aggressively as the exquisite right-hander struck six boundaries and a solitary maximum. 

Liton departed in the 12th over after giving a return catch to Samay Shrivastava as a 102-run opening stand between him and Naim ended. Naim, meanwhile, smashed a 53-ball 63, laced with three fours and two maximums, before being retired hurt in the 17th over. 

Bangladesh lost momentum after Naim's departure as the Tigers lost their next three wickets while adding just 22 on the board. However, Sohan's carnage, an unbeaten 49 off just 15 deliveries, featuring seven maximums, and Shamim Hossain's 19 off just 10 deliveries helped Bangladesh bounce back and post a mammoth total. 

Oman A, who had only all-rounder Khurram Nawaz from their World Cup squad playing in this game, never really looked comfortable against Bangladesh's compact bowling attack. The likes of pacers Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin along with spinners Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed kept the scoring in check for most part of the game. 

And had it not been for a relentless 14-ball 31 from Rafiullah at the death, the winning margin could have been much wider. However, coming to bat at number nine, Rafiullah struck four maximums -- two in consecutive deliveries off Soumya Sarkar in the 18th over and the other two off back-to-back deliveries of Shoriful in the penultimate over. 

Rafiullah was removed by Saifuddin in the final delivery of the game.

Shoriful remained the highest-wicket taker among the Bangladeshi bowlers today, scalping three wickets for 30 runs in four overs. However, Saifuddin ended as the best bowler for the Tigers, giving away just 17 runs in his four overs while picking two wickets.