The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The GP-BCB Academy team, riding on a Mehrab Hossain Jr ton, scored 295 for 8 in 90 overs against South Africa Academy team on the first day of the 2nd four-day match of the Grameenphone Academy Cup at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Matiur Rahman Stadium in Khulna on Wednesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team faced initial collapse losing top three wickets of Jahirul Islam (0), Imrul Kayes (23) and skipper Nasiruddin Faruk (16) for 48 runs in 10.4 overs.

But number five Mehrab Hossain Jr had two good partnerships to carry the team total to a respectable position.

Mehrab Jr, pairing with two down Nayeem Islam, put up 93 runs in the 4th wicket stand and another 80 runs in the fifth wicket stand with Shamsur Rahman.

Mehrab scored 102 runs off 177 balls with 15 boundaries, number six Shamsur Rahman made 58 off 135 balls with six fours and two sixes, while Nayeem Islam made 32 off 89 balls with three fours.

Lower order Suhrawardi Shuvo and tail-ender Rubel Hossain were batting with 27 and 4 runs respectively, while national colour wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim scored only three runs.

Neil Wagner claimed three wickets for 64 runs while C De Villiers and Richard Neves took two wickets each.

Earlier, in the first four-day match, the home team beat the visitors by an innings and 68 runs at the Shamsul Huda Stadium in Jessore.

On completion of the 2nd four-dayer, the Pakistan Academy team will arrive here on April 14 to participate in the triangular one-day tournament involving South Africa Academy team and GP-BCB Academy team.

After the one-day 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 at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium (RDVS).