Bangladesh A secured a thrilling victory over Pakistan Shaheens by 5 runs in their second four-day match. The match, held at the Darwin Arena in Australia, showcased intense performances from both teams.
Pakistan Shaheens, after winning the toss, chose to bowl first, restricting Bangladesh A to a modest score of 258 in their first innings.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy scored 69 runs off 90 balls while Aich Mollah made a crucial half-century to help Bangladesh to reach the total of 258.
Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan Shaheens as he took three wickets for 69 runs in his 17 over spell.
Pakistan Shaheens, in response, struggled against a disciplined bowling attack, managing only 179 runs, giving Bangladesh A a significant lead.
Kamran Ghulam scored 48 runs off 75 deliveries while Tayyab Tahir was the only other batter who went past the 30 run mark as Pakistan struggled with the bat.
In the second innings, Bangladesh A faced a resilient Pakistan Shaheens bowling attack but managed to post 216 runs, setting a target of 296 for the Shaheens to chase.
Mohammad Ali dismantled the Bangladesh A batting line-up with a 6 wicket haul, however, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Aich Mollah remained resilient on the crease, with the former scoring 65 runs with a strike rate of 100.
The Shaheens, undeterred by their first innings performance, came out with determination, with their middle order putting up a valiant effort to chase down the target.
Despite a spirited fightback, Pakistan Shaheens fell agonizingly short, getting bowled out for 290, just 5 runs shy of the target.
Sahibzada Farhan smashed 68 runs off 70 balls while left-handed batter Haseebullah looked solid during his innings of 51 runs off 120 balls.
Tayyab Tahir and Omair Bin Yousuf also impressed during the fourth innings while providing impetus in the run-chase as both contributed with scores of 43 and 45 respectively.
The match saw standout performances from bowlers on both sides, with Bangladesh A’s Mahmudul Hasan Joy picking up a 5-wicket haul in his 13 over spell during the 4th innings.
This victory for Bangladesh A highlights their growing prowess in the longer format of the game and sets a promising tone for their future encounters.