Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 272 Thu. March 03, 2005  
   
Sports


Same old batting story


Another defeat in the Duleep Trophy tournament stared Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) X1 in the face as they crashed to 117-6 in their first innings at stumps on the second day against Central Zone at the Karnail Singh Stadium here yesterday.

The batting collapse came in sharp contrast to their commendable efforts in the morning when the bowlers restricted Central to 351 all out after the hosts resumed at 248-3 overnight.

Bangladesh coach Dave Whatmore described the pitch as "flat" and yet his boys failed to take advantage of it. Worse, the BCB X1 lost both their openers without a single run being put on the board.

Al Shahriar fell off the last ball of the first over from Harbinder Singh when he was brilliantly caught at third slip by Amit Pagnis.

Nafees Iqbal, who did not play in the first match against East Zone that the Bangladesh selection lost by an innings and 149 runs, followed just a ball later after being trapped leg before by Salabh Srivatsava.

Aftab Ahmed and captain Mohammad Ashraful tried to stem the rot by adding 52 runs for the third wicket before Central skipper and spinner Jai Prakash Yadav removed the duo and he also had Alok Kapali to leave Bangladesh in dire straits.

Aftab batted over an hour to notch 18 while Ashraful played a stroke-filled 30 in 88 minutes with the help of six fours.

Yadav's three-wicket haul put BCB XI against the wall with only 14 runs coming after the third wicket stand.

Left-arm spinner Manjural Islam, who was batting on 32, offered some resistance and along with fellow spinner Abdur Razzaq, on four, held out till close of day's play.

However, the morning looked bright for Ashraful's men when the pace duo of Anwar Hossain Munir and Talha Jubair ran through the home side's batting line-up. The last seven wickets fell for 103 runs.

Devendra Bundela failed to add anything to his overnight score of 83 before being dismissed by Anwar, who finished with 4-58 in 26 overs.

India spinner Murali Kartik with 33 was the other notable scorer.

Talha Jubair also scalped four wickets conceding 122 runs.

Central Zone are favourites to reach the final of the premier Indian first-class competition where any Bangladesh team is taking part for the first time.