Pakistan Shaheens trail by 219 runs with eight wickets in hand, finishing the day at 39-2 in 16 overs after bowling out Bangladesh ‘A’ for 258 runs on the opening day of the second four-day match at DXC Arena in Darwin.
Ripon Mondol dismissed Shaheens’ openers, Sahibzada Farhan (4 off 13 balls) and Haseebullah (18 off 46 balls, 3 fours). Mohammad Ali (1 not out off 5 balls), sent in as a night-watchman, will resume play on the second day alongside Omair Bin Yousuf (7 not out off 33 balls, 1 four).
Earlier, Kashif Ali drew first blood for Pakistan Shaheens after skipper Sahibzada Farhan chose to bowl first, dismissing Shadman Islam in the eighth over. Parvez Hossain Emon (30 off 75 balls, 4 fours) stitched a 60-run second-wicket partnership with skipper Mahmudul Hasan Joy before Khurram Shahzad removed him.
Khurram and Faisal Akram then struck twice in quick succession, with Khurram pinning Amite Hasan leg-before wicket for seven in the 28th over, and Faisal dismissing Shahadat Hossain for one in the following over. With Bangladesh ‘A’ reeling at 104-4, skipper Mahmudul (69 off 90 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) partnered with Aich Mollah to add 54 runs for the fifth wicket before Kashif Ali claimed Mahmudul’s wicket.
Another double strike left Bangladesh ‘A’ struggling at 188-7 when Aich Mollah (55 off 80 balls, 7 fours) was caught behind, followed by Hasan Murad’s run-out for a seven-ball duck by Haseebullah.
Vital contributions from Mahidul Hasan Ankon (31 off 43 balls, 6 fours), batting at seven, Rejaur Rehman Raja (28 off 34 balls, 5 fours), batting at nine, and Ripon Mondol (17 off 40 balls, 2 fours), batting at 10, helped Bangladesh ‘A’ reach 258 in 67.3 overs.
Pacers Khurram and Kashif took three and two wickets, respectively, while Faisal Akram and Kamran Ghulam each claimed two wickets.
