Hosts in disarray against Windies A

Bangladesh A were in a state of disarray in Sylhet as they slumped to 157 for seven at the close of the second day in the third four-day game against West Indies A in response to the visitors' first-innings total of 445.

There were ominous signs ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan next month, with batters such as Mominul Haque, Yasir Ali and Nurul Hasan Sohan failing to make their presence felt.

The home side's bowlers did not have the best of outings either, finding little help in the wicket. Despite the lack of turn on offer, Nasum Ahmed scalped a fifer while pacers Mushfik Hasan and Shoriful Islam bagged two each.

Following the exchange, openers Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan negotiated eight overs before the former was caught behind after making nine off 27 balls.

From there, the slump began. Mominul departed after scoring five before Zakir was run out for 29. Saif Hassan's innings lasted 68 deliveries during a team-high 32 while Sohan produced 28.

It took some rear-guard action from pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nasum, unbeaten on 17 and seven respectively, to get through to the end of play with the A side now staring a defeat, still 228 runs behind.

"We haven't batted well at all. The wicket is good and did not offer much help [to the bowlers] with little seam movement on offer. We just didn't bat well," selector Habibul Bashar told The Daily Star yesterday.