Mahmudullah warms up with ton
Mahmudullah Riyad was the only significant performer with the bat for Bangladesh Red as the experienced right-hander before they were bundled out for 268 on the first day of a two-day practice match against Bangladesh Green at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
The match was played as part of the team’s preparations for a one-off Test against Afghanistan starting on Thursday.
The 33-year-old scored 107 off 189 balls with the help of 10 boundaries before medium-pacer Ariful Haque dismissed him. Pacer Taskin Ahmed, who made a comeback to the Test side against Afghanistan, was the pick of the bowlers for the Green team as the right-arm seamer bagged four wickets for 45 runs from 12.1 overs.
Electing to bat first, the Red team were in a spot of bother when Mohammad Mithun, who opened the innings, was bowled by pacer Ebadot Hossain for one and Taskin had his partner Jahurul Islam caught behind for 13.
Bangladesh Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan was bowled by Taskin for a first-ball duck while Liton Kumar, despite getting a start, was dismissed for 25 to leave his side struggling on 63 for four inside 29 overs.
It was then Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman who steadied the ship and added 65 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter became Ebadot’s second victim after scoring 37 runs.
Shakib tried his luck, coming in to bat for a second time, but once again failed and was trapped leg-before for nine off the bowling of Taijul Islam.
Mahmudullah, who unlike his recent ODI form has been in good touch in Tests with two hundreds in his last three matches, reached his hundred off 181 balls. Pacer Abu Hider’s 69-ball 40 was the second highest score for the batting side.
Apart from Taskin’s four-wicket haul, Ebadot also bagged three wickets for 42 runs from his 14 overs.
