News

Bangladesh hang on for a draw

Bangladesh Cricket Board XI hung on for a draw and avoided a massive defeat on the final day of the Duleep Trophy encounter in Delhi

Cricinfo staff
04-Mar-2005
Bangladesh Cricket Board XI 146 and 199 for 6 (Manjural 49) drew with Central Zone 351 (Ali 122) and 230 (Bangar 96, Aftab 7-39)
Scorecard
Bangladesh Cricket Board XI hung on for a draw and avoided a massive defeat on the final day of the Duleep Trophy encounter in Delhi. Set a target of 436, BCB XI were saved by Manjural Islam Rana and Alok Kapali as they stuttered to 199 for 6 when play was called off.
After the loss of Al Sahariar for a duck, Nafis Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed stitched together a 62-run partnership for the second wicket. But both fell in quick succession as Central got a whiff of an unlikely win. But Kapali (45) and Rana, both with international experience, added 90 and ensured against a middle-order capitulation.
Earlier in the day, Central Zone were dismissed for 230, with Sanjay Bangar narrowly missing out on a century. Aftab Ahmed, the medium pacer, added two more wickets to his overnight tally and ended with 7 for 39, his best first-class figures by a long way. It was a stunning performance by Aftab considering that he had just eight first-class wickets to his name before this game.
After a huge defeat against East Zone in the opening game, Bangladesh managed to salvage some pride on the final leg of their Indian sojourn. Central now look forward to the final against North Zone, starting at nagpur on March 8.