MATCH REPORT
Follow UsOpener Zakir Hasan played an all-important knock of 173 off 402 balls and added 148 for the second wicket with Najmul Hossain Shanto (77 off 187 balls) as Bangladesh A narrowly escaped an innings defeat against India A on the fourth and final day of the practice match at Cox's Bazaar on Friday.
After being skittled out for 112 in the first innings, Bangladesh A were facing a deficit of 353 after India A posted 465/5 in their first innings, thanks to hundreds by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (145) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (142) and a half-century by wicketkeeper Upendra Yadav (71 not out).
After losing opening partner Mahmadul Hasan Joy (21) on the third day, Zakir walked out alongside Shanto on the fourth day morning as left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar separated the pair by removing Shanto.
Saurabh then ran through the batting lineup as he removed Mosaddek Hossain and Taijul Islam for ducks and Nayeem Hasan who battled for over an hour facing 45 balls and scoring 5 runs. Jayant Yadav got the wicket of Bangladesh A captain Mohammad Mithun before wicketkeeper Zakir Ali Anik added 51 for the fifth wicket with Zakir.
After Saurabh triggered the lower-order collapse, he bowled Zakir as the ninth wicket. By that time, Bangladesh A were left with 14 balls to see out the day and earn a draw. They ended the match with a second innings score of 341/9, 12 runs behind India A's lead.
India A will have Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav and KS Bharath for the second game at Cox's Bazaar starting on December 6. Easwaran will be the captain of the side.
