The Bangladesh Emerging Team had made an imposing 233 for 4 wickets at stumps on the opening day of the 1st unofficial Test, A gainst the Sri Lanka Emerging Team at Khulna yesterday. Leading the way for Bangladesh was Najmul Hossain Shanto with a superb captain’s unbeaten knock of 124 off 249 balls inclusive of12 boundaries and a six.

Sri Lanka got the early breakthrough of the wicket of Mohammad Naim to a catch by Pathum Nissanka for 9 with the total on 12, but Bangladesh rallied with the advent of Shanto who posted 69 for the second wicket with Saif Hassan who was run out for 18 to a throw by Kalana Perera and the hosts were 81 for 2 off 31.4 overs. The Lankans reduced the hosts to 3 for 95 when Ramesh Mendis dismissed Yasir Ali for 4 well caught by Nissanka. But from that point Shanto and Afif Hossain made the Sri Lankan bowlers toil with the fourth wicket realizing 99 runs when the latter was bowled by Nishan Peiris for 54. Hossain’s 108-ball knock contained 7 boundaries.

Kalana Perera was the most economical bowler for the Sri Lanka Emerging Team with 1 for 36 off 18 overs.

CHIEF SCORES:

Bangladesh Emerging Team  233/4 (88 Overs) Run Rate: 2.64

(N.H. Shanto n.o. 124, Afif Hossain 54, Saif Hassan 18).

By Srian Obeyesekere

-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-