DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – A half-century from Andre Fletcher was upstaged by impressive bowling from Enamul Haque Jr, as the Sagicor High Performance Centre team stumbled in their tour match against Bangladesh-A yesterday
Fletcher led the way with 51, but Enamul undermined the Sagicor HPC batting with 7-45 from 18.5 overs of left-arm spin, as the visitors crumbled to 147 all out, replying to Bangladesh A’s first innings total of 199, about an hour before tea on the second day of the four-day match at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.
The Sagicor HPC fought back, restricting the A-Team to 88 for three in their second innings – an overall lead of 140 – before stumps were drawn.
Sagicor HPC captain Carlos Brathwaite made the breakthrough, when he removed Nasiruddin Faroque for six in the penultimate over before tea, as Bangladesh-A reached 17 for one at the break.
After tea, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican added to the early Bangladesh-A wobble, when he bowled left-handed opener Imrul Kayes for 13 in the second over after the break, leaving the home team 21 for two.
For close to half-hour, the Sagicor HPC met resistance, when Mominul Haque joined his captain Raqibul Hasan and stabilised the innings before he was caught behind off left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul for 27, sinking Bangladesh-A to 57 for three.
There was no further success for the Sagicor HPC, as Raqibul, not out on 21, and Naeem Islam, not out on 13, batted through until the close.
Earlier, Fletcher, a century-maker in the first tour match against the Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy, struck 10 fours from 65 balls in 1 ½ hours at the crease, but there was neither substance nor stability from the rest of the batting.
Marlon Barclay made 22, but no other Sagicor HPC batsman reached 20, and Saqlain Sajib, another left-arm spinner, added to their woes with 2-43 from 14 overs.
Opener Trevon Griffith fell for four early, when he became Enamul’s first scalp before Barclay and Fletcher kept things moving with a stand of 42 for the second wicket.
But the Sagicor HPC lost their way badly and they were rocking on 99 for six at lunch, after Fletcher’s departure, lbw to Saqlain Sajib, triggered a collapse which saw five wickets fall for 19 in the space of 52 deliveries.
After the interval, the Sagicor HPC lower-order was little or no match for Enamul, who brought the innings to a close, when he had Sheldon Cotterrell stumped for three, as the visitors lost their last four wickets for 23 from 61 balls. The Sagicor HPC is on a month-long tour to Bangladesh.