It was a disappointing batting display by Bangladesh. The story would have been more pitiable but for the useful half-centuries by Soumya Sarkar (52, 73b, 9x4, 1x6) and captain Mushfiqur Rahim (58, 106b, 8x4, 1x6), as the team managed to score 224 for eight declared against India-A on the first day of the two-day practice game at the Gymkhana Ground here on Sunday.
In reply, India-A was 91 for one at close of play in 21 overs.
On a pitch which had good bounce, swing and carry, especially in the morning session, left-arm pacer and local boy Chama Milind bowled well to trouble the openers with a diagonal line. He provided the first breakthrough, inducing a pull stroke from opener Imrul Kayes (4) and had him caught in the deep by Hardik Pandya.
Then, another left-armer Aniket Choudhary cleaned up the dangerous Tamim Iqbal (13) to leave the visitors, who elected to bat, struggling at 44 for two.
Missed opportunity
For a team which opted for this practice match ahead of the one-off Test match against India starting from Feb. 9 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here, it was not the kind of batting the Bangladesh think-tank would have hoped for.
The flamboyant Sarkar, after early anxious moments, settled down to play some pleasing strokes on either side of the wicket.
Pandya required some medical attention on his right foot and did not bowl after three expensive overs.
Once Sarkar was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, it was left to the gritty captain Mushfiqur to hold the innings together as the others failed to come good. And, he did that in style with a well-paced half-century.
For India-A, 27-year-old speedster Choudhary bowled well and with precision to finish with a four-wicket haul.
“I am pleased with my performance but disappointed at missing out on a five-wicket haul. This pitch suited my style of bowling. Definitely, this spell should give me a lot of confidence as I chase my dream of playing for India one day,” Choudhary said.
After Bangladesh declared at 224 for eight in 67 overs, India-A opener Priyank Panchal (40 batting, 62b, 6x4) and Shreyas Iyer (29 batting, 35, 4x4, 1x6) batted fluently against both pace and spin after the exit of their captain Abhinav Mukund (16).
The scores: Bangladesh — 1st innings: Tamim Iqbal b Aniket Choudhary 13, Imrul Kayes c Hardik Pandya b Chama Milind 4, Soumya Sarkar lbw b Shahbaz Nadeem 52, Mominul Haque c Ishan Kishan b Aniket Choudhary 5, Mahmudullah c Priyank Panchal b Kuldeep Yadav 23, Mushfiqur Rahim c Rishab Pant b Aniket Choudhary 58, Sabbir Rahman lbw b Vijay Shankar 33, Liton Das (not out) 23, Mehedi Hasan Miraz lbw b Aniket Choudhary 0, Taijul Islam (not out) 4; Extras: (w-5, nb-4): 9; Total (for eight wkts. decl. in 67 overs): 224.
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-44, 3-72, 4-89, 5-113, 6-184, 7-206, 8-206.
India-A bowling: Chama Milind 12-3-26-1, Hardik Pandya 3-0-29-0, Aniket Choudhary 12-2-26-4, Vijay Shankar 5-0-32-1, Jayant Yadav 9-2-41-0, Shahbaz Nadeem 16-5-38-1, Kuldeep Yadav 10-1-32-1.
India-A — 1st innings: Priyank Panchal (batting) 40, Abhinav Mukund c Imrul Kayes b Subashis Roy 16, Shreyas Iyer (batting) 29; Extras (lb-4, nb-2): 6; Total (for one wkt. in 21 overs): 91.
Fall of wicket: 1-41.
Bangladesh bowling: Shafiul Islam 4-1-17-0, Taskin Ahmed 6-1-25-0, Subashis Roy 5-1-11-1, Mehedi Hasan Mirza 4-0-27-0, Taijul Islam 2-0-7-0.
Toss: Bangladesh .
