Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 214 Thu. January 01, 2004  
   
Sports


WAPDA in charge against BD A


Captain Hanna Sarker hit his second fifty of the match but it was just about the only bright spot for Bangladesh A who were left staring at defeat at close on day three of the four-day Patron's Trophy match against Pakistan WAPDA at the UBL ground in Karachi yesterday.

The second string Bangladesh's side ended the day on 183 for six in their second innings and still need another 153 runs to make Wapda bat again.

The home side had declared their first innings yesterday on 502 runs for eight, a lead of 336. The A team could manage only 166 in their first essay.

Aqeel Ahmed initiated the Bangladesh's A's collapse in the second innings as he claimed three wickets conceding 63 runs in 23 overs.

In-form Shahriar Hossain failed for the second time in the match when he returned to the dressing room with only 2 runs on the scoreboard. But Sarker paired Moniruzzaman to repair the early damage putting on 62 runs for the second wicket.

Test opener Sarker, who will return home after the match to join the national team's camp for the tour of Zimbabwe, made 57 off 110 deliveries with seven hits across the rope. Moniruzzaman was looking good as he reached 26 off 76 balls but was then run out.

Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haq didn't last long leaving the lower order with a mountain to climb just to save the game.

Earlier Adil Nishar blasted 157 and Shoaib Khan scored 88 as WAPDA batted out the visitors having begun the day on 383 runs for four.

Right-arm pacer Alamgir Kabir was the most successful A team bowler picking up four wickets for 113 runs from 29 overs while left-arm spinner Manjarul Islam Rana captured three for 103 from 26.1 overs.