Tigers warm up well

The Bang-ladesh national cricket team warmed up well for next month’s Twen-ty20 World Cup in South Africa when they defeated the Australia-bound Academy squad in both practice matches by five wickets and 60 runs respectively at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.
In the first warm-up match, the Academy squad elected to bat and scored 103-6. Skipper Mehrab Hossain made highest 39 off 52 balls while Naim Islam hit a brisk 37-ball 33.
Mashrafee bin Murtaza and Abdur Razzak bagged two wickets each respectively for the senior side. Alok Kapali and Ziaur Rahman grabbed the other two wickets.
Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful made light of the Academy total hammering a 33-ball 45 with the help of
three fours and two sixes as the Tigers romped to 104-5 in 17.2 overs.
Sakib al Hasan was the other notable run-getter with 15 off 22 balls. Dollar Mahmud took 2-16 for the Academy side.
Aftab Ahmed and Sakib starred in the second match smashing 43 and 33 respectively as the national squad ended their 20 overs on 144-9 after being asked to bat.
Hard-hitting Aftab faced 32 balls to hit four fours and a six while Sakib cracked a four and two sixes in his 25-ball knock.
Alok with a run-a-ball 21 and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim’s 12 off just four balls also helped the Twenty20 World Cup-bound squad compile a decent total. Dollar Mahmud was again the pick of the Academy bowlers with 3-30.
Apart from Nasiruddin Faruque’s 26-ball 21, none of the other Academy batsmen managed to get going. They were eventually dismissed for only 84 in 19 overs with Sakib and Razzak weaving their magic to share five wickets. Alok, Ziaur Rahman, Mashrafee and Mahmudullah Riyad took a wicket each.
The national team’s joy at winning both practice matches, however, was replaced by concerns over Mushfiq and seamer Syed Rasel, who sustained shoulder and ankle injuries. Although the team management sources later said their injuries were not serious.
The two teams meet again today in a 40-over-a-side contest at the same venue.

BD Academy Vs BD National
BD Academy 103/6 Over -20; Mehrab 39 (52 balls), Naim 33 (37 balls), Dollar 16 (8 balls; 6x2); Mashrafee 2/13, Razzak 2/25, Ziaur 1/8, Kapali 1/14
BD National 104/5 Over -17.2; Ashraful 45 (33 balls; 4x3, 6x2), Shakib 15 (22 balls), Nadif 8 (11 balls; 6x1); Dollar 2/16, Nazmul 1/8, Talha 1/19
Bangladesh National team won by 5 wkts (Second Twenty20 practice match; Date-21/08/2007; Venue-SBNS; Toss-BD Academy)

BD National Vs BD Academy
BD National 144/9 Over -20; Aftab 43 (32 balls; 4x4, 6x1), Shakib 33 (25 balls; 4x1, 6x2), Kapali 21 (21 balls), Mushfiqur 12* (4 balls; 4x1, 6x1); Dollar 3/30, Naim 2/17, Nazmul 1/19, Mehrab 1/35
BD Academy 84/10 Over -19; Nasiruddin 21 (26 balls), Naim 12 (8 balls; 6x1); Shakib 3/12, Razzak 2/5, Kapali 1/6, Riad 1/6, Mashrafee 1/14, Farhad 1/16, Ziaur 1/19
Bangladesh National team won by 60 runs (First Twenty20 practice match; Date-21/08/2007; Venue-SBNS; Toss-BD Academy)