Comitted to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 38 Fri. July 04, 2003  
   
Sports


Academy challenge BD


Batsman Matthew Innes scored an unbeaten century as Australia's Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy made the touring Bangladeshis struggle on the opening day of their three-day tour match here on Thursday.

Victorian left-hander Innes, who will turn 19 on Friday, scored 128 not out before his skipper Aaron Nye declared at 258 for three, 55 minutes after tea at the Allan Border Field.

In reply, Bangladesh had reached 53 for one off 19 overs by stumps. Hannan Sarker was batting on 33 with one-down Habibul Bashar, who was not out on 19.

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore made three changes for the game which is the second practice outing for the tourists. Paceman Tareq Aziz and Mashrafee-bin Murtaza came in for fellow quicks Manjurul Islam and Tapas Baishya while left-arm spinner Mohammedan Rafique stepped into the playing eleven at the expense of Al-Shahriar.

Opener Javed Omar retained his place despite scoring a pair in the first match against Queensland Academy of Sport. However, his stay at the wicket was short-lived again as he departed for eight after being trapped leg before in the 10th over with the score on 27.

Hannan and Bashar however ended the day without further damage putting on 26 for the second wicket.

Hannan belted six boundaries in his 66-ball innings.

Innes, one of the younger members of the Academy team, added 180 in 195 minutes for the third wicket with Rhett Lockyear (90).

Innes hit 17 fours and two sixes in just under five hours of batting and faced 200 balls.

The Academy piled on 146 runs off 32 overs between lunch and tea.

Nye opted to give his bowlers a go after an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 58 in 46 minutes between Innes and Callum Ferguson (18 not out).

After Nye won the toss, the Academy limped to 48 for two off 30 overs in the first session.

West Australian Scott Meuleman (one) -- one of four Academy players with first-class experience -- was bowled by Mashrafe (1-37) off the eighth delivery of the game.

The Academy slumped to 20 for two after Nye (10) was caught by wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud off paceman Tareq Aziz.

Mashud was involved in the only other dismissal when he stumped Lockyear off Rafique (1-67). Lockyear hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 195-minute stay.

Bangladesh, who lost their match against the Queensland Academy by 29 runs last week, will play Australia in a two-Test series. The first Test starts in Darwin on July 18.