Bangladesh Domestic: MCC begin Bangladesh tour with a tame draw

The opening match of the Marylebone Cricket Club's tour of Bangladesh against a Board President's XI ended in a tame draw yesterday at Rajshahi stadium. On the first day, a sparkling century from Anthony Mcgrath rescued the Marylebone Cricket Club from a disastrous situation. BCB XI's Shafiuddin Ahmed Babu (4/46) ripped through the MCC top order reducing them to 67/5. McGrath, the Yorkshire right hander, came in with the score on 12/2 and smashed 14 bounderies and 2 sixes in his undefeated 205-ball knock of 119 runs. He put on 115 runs with Tony Dodemaide (27) for the seventh wicket which took the MCC to a respectable score of 222/7 before the declaration came. Neil Killeen removed two Bangladeshi batsmen, as President's XI were left struggling on 23/2 at the end of the day's play.

On the second day, the BCB XI, lost opener Azam Iqbal (27) with the score on 52. Then Naimur Rahman Durjoy was joined by captain Akram Khan. Together they took the score past 200, before Akram was dismissed for 57 off 125 deliveries. This was followed by a complete collapse, as none of the other batsmen reached double figures. Naimur however batted defiantly and brought up his hundred in 177 deliveries. He ended up scoring 121, with 14 fours and a six before he was lbw to MCC captain Patel (4/62) who was responsible for the BCB XI's middle order collapse, as they lost five wickets for just 39 runs.

After Naimur's dismissal, Akram declared at 245/8 and the MCC crawled to 41/1 at the end of the second day, having played 25 overs. On an uneventful third day, the MCC decided to utilise the entire day for batting practice, as they reached 222/7 and declared at exactly the same score, they had in the first innings. Keeper Paul Nixon was the top scorer with 68 off 141 balls, before he retired hurt, while Ben Smith made exactly 50 and first innings centurion Anthony McGrath was run out on 24. Off spinner Fahim Muntasir was the peak of the Bangladesh bowlers taking 3/49. The MCC declared setting the home side an improbable target of 200 for victory in the 12 overs remaining in the match.

The President's XI scored 17 without loss, with openers Azam Iqbal and Sajid Hassan making 8 and 7 respectively. Naimur Rahman Durjoy was adjudged man of the match for his spectacular 121 in the President's XI first innings, and for taking a wicket in each of the MCC's innings. The MCC will travel to Dhaka tomorrow, to play a four-dayer at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The Bangladesh Cricket Board was yet to announce their opponents for the match. It is probable that the BCB will field the national side against the MCC in the following game, as it might get ICC's nod for first class status.

MCC squad: Min Patel (captain), Bill Athey, Mark Boocock, Will House, Barry Hyam, Richard Johnson, Neil Killeen, Anthony McGrath, Paul Nixon (wkt), Ryan Sidebottom, Ben Smith, Matthew Wood, Gary Yates, Lt. Colonel John Stephenson (manager), John Hampshire (umpire) & Alec Bragg (physio).