Ariful & Khaled secure two-run win for BD A
An all-round performance from Ariful Haque paired with Khaled Ahmed's four-wicket haul helped the Bangladesh A team secure a nerve wracking two-run win over Sri Lanka A team in the first of a three-match one-day series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Chasing a 281-run target, Sri Lanka needed three runs off the last ball to win but right-arm seamer Khaled held his nerves to dismiss Shehan Madhushanaka, who struck three sixes in his 12-ball 21-run knock, and bundle out the visitors on 278.
After being sent to bat, Sri Lanka were struggling on 72 for 4 at one point but Ashan Priyanjan and Dasun Shanaka steadied the ship by adding 84 runs for the fifth wicket.
Priyanjan was dismissed on 42 but Shanaka held on until he was dismissed by Khaled in the 46th over after scoring a run-a-ball 78, featuring six sixes and two fours.
Skipper Thisara Perera (22) and Shammu Ashan (28) kept charging the Bangladeshi bowlers but eventually fell agonisingly short in the end.
Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam bagged three wickets while medium pacer Ariful, who scored a quick-fire 47 off just 22 balls laced with four sixes and three fours, also bagged two wickets.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted a challenging total of 280 for 7 in 50 overs with opener Mizanur Rahman top scoring for the side with 67 while Fazle Mahmud added 59 runs.
The second match of the series will take place tomorrow at the same venue.
SCORE IN BRIEF
Bangladesh A: 280 for 7 in 50 overs (Mizanur 67, Soumya 24, Mahmud 59, Mithun 44, Ariful 47; Shanaka 1-24)
Sri Lanka A: 278 all out in 50 overs (Thirimanne 29, G Jayasuriya 20, Priyanjan 42, Shanaka 78, N Perera 22, Ashan 28, Madushanka 21; Khaled 4-72, Shoriful 3-54, Ariful 2-42)
Result: Bangladesh A won by two runs and led the 3-match series 1-0.
Player-of-the-match: Ariful Haque.
