BCB Academy seals series

The GP-BCB Academy team won the two-match four-day series 1-0 against South Africa Academy team as the 2nd four-day match between the two sides ended in draw on the 4th day at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium (BSSMRS) in Khulna on Saturday. Chasing 392 on the final day for a win, the visitors managed 230 for 9 in 78 overs in their 2nd innings at stumps on the final day. Opener Rushdi Jappie stood strong at one end with a century to deny victory to the hosts as wickets fell all around him at regular intervals.

Rushdi remained unbeaten on 121 playing 241 balls with 15 fours, while number eleven Mafinki Serame held his nerve to make 2nd highest not out 24.

Raihanuddin Arafat was the most successful bowler in the 2nd innings scalping three wickets for 61 runs while Mahbubul Alam Robin and Suhrawardi Shuvo took two wickets each.

Earlier, resuming their 2nd innings at 274 for 4, the BCB Academy team declared at 326 for 6 in 87 overs with overnight centurian Nayeem Islam top scoring 161 runs off 253 balls that featured 19 fours and four sixes.

Another night watch batsman Shamsur Rahman Shuvo made 50 off 91 balls with three fours and a six.

Mthokozisi Shezi grabbed two wickets for 60 runs.

In their first innings, South Africa Academy team scored 259 for all after bowling out BCB Academy team for 324 in the first innings.

Mehrab Hossain Jr. was adjudged man of the match for scoring 155 runs (1st innings and 2nd innings) and claiming three wickets.

Nayeem Islam was named player of the series scoring a total of 329 runs and taking one wicket.

The BCB Academy team earlier won the first four-day match against South Africa Academy team by an innings and 68 runs.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Academy team will arrive in Dhaka on April 14 to participate in the triangular one-day tournament involving Academy teams of Bangladesh and South Africa.

After the tournament, the Pakistan side will play two four-day matches against their Bangladesh counterparts - the first on Apr 26-29 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium (SCS) in Bogra and the 2nd on May 2-5, also at the same venue.

Brief score:

GP BCB - 324 all out & 326 for 6 (dec) in 87 overs; Shamsur 50*, Soharawardi 8*, Nayeem 161, Mehrab 53;

SA ACADEMY 259 all out & 230 for 9 (78 overs) Rushdi 121*, Mafinki 24*; Suhrawardi 2/50, Robin 2/43.

--UNB, Khulna