Crushing victory for Bangladesh Academy

BCB Academy may have escaped defeat by the skin of their teeth in the four-day encounters, but reversed the form book completely to thump South Africa Academy by 197 runs in the first one-day match in Bogra. The visitors asked the hosts to bat first and were left to rue the decision as Asif Ahmed and Mithun Ali added 125 runs for the third wicket to set the tone for a big score.

The pair came together after the openers did their bit, at 60 for 2 in 12 overs. Mithun was the aggressor, smashing 87 in 67 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Asif focused on staying till the end, and was eventually dismissed in the final over for a steady 79, as Bangladesh reached 328. Sabbir Rahman and Nasir Hossain went berserk at the other end, hitting three sixes each, in their knocks of 33 and 52 respectively.

South Africa Academy was rocked early by opening bowler Subashis Roy, who struck three body blows as the chase struggled to get off the ground. Sanjamul Islam then took over the baton, running through the middle order to finish with 5 for 28. The visitors' struggle ended in the 34th over when they were bowled out for 131.