Mazid makes England toil before Ansari’s four-for

Bangladesh

0

Abdul Mazid and Nazmul Hossain Shanto dominated proceedings for the BCB XI on either side of the lunch interval but they didn’t deter the England bowlers from picking up regular wickets on the first day of their second warm-up match at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.

England openers Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed batted out the last four overs safely to stumps, in reply to the home side’s 294 all out in 74.4 overs. Zafar Ansari finished with four wickets with his left-arm spin but the veteran Gareth Batty wasn’t too far behind with his two-wicket haul. Stuart Broad also warmed up with two wickets while Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali picked up one each.

But it was the centurion Mazid who was stood out. He started off rapidly, hammering anything full and wide offered by the England bowlers. He struck 14 boundaries, mostly driven off the front foot, and a six over long-on off Batty in making 92 not out off 86 balls before lunch. In their 51-run opening stand, Soumya Sarkar contributed just four runs before offering a simple catch at cover. Mazid then added 76 for the second wicket with Shanto but he didn’t come out to bat following the lunch break, with the team manager informing that he was suffering from cramp.

While Soumya’s place in the Test squad is still in question, Mominul Haque will bat in the Bangladesh top-order. However, Moeen Ali had him bowled for 2, as the left-hander tried to force the offspinner off the back foot.

Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain batted confidently for most of the second session, adding 77 runs for the third wicket. Mosaddek, another vying for a Test spot, made 47 off 49 balls with two fours and three sixes. Shanto was caught at point for 72 off 130 balls, having struck most of his 13 boundaries through the off-side.

While Mazid was more fluent driving the ball, at times appearing to be carefree when lofting the ball, Shanto is a more compact batsman who offers solidity at No 3. He is still some distance from breaking into the Bangladesh top-order but the 72 would be noted for future reference by the watching selection committee.

Mazid returned after the fall of Tanveer Haider’s wicket in the third session, completing his century off 90 balls and then falling himself five balls later for 106. He added two more fours to his 14 boundaries before Broad bowled him as he swung across the line.