Result: Bangladesh won by 107 runs
Bangladesh, as expected, posted a facile 107-run win over Ireland A in a limited-over match played at the Cork Cricket Club ground in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday.
According to faxed message received here yesterday, middle order batsman Faruque Ahmed scored a workman-like 78 as Bangladesh, opting to bat first after Akram called the coin correctly, piled up a sizeable 257 for five in the stipulated 50 overs.
Coming to bat at number three in the very first over with Bangladesh on a duck at the expense of left-handed opener Mohammad Rafique (0), Faruque, the Bangladesh captain for the infamous Kenya tour in 1994, steadied the boat by putting on 76 for the second wicket with the other opener Azam Iqbal. The partnership was broken when Azam, who replaced Athar Ali in the top order, was out on 24 after providing patient support to Faruque.
Faruque then added another 61 runs with vice-captain Aminul Islam and took the scoreboard to 137 before returning to the pavilion. After Faruque's departure, Bangla-desh lost two quick wickets, that of Aminul Islam (25) and skipper Akram (19).
However, it was lower middle-order Naimur Rahman who, assisted by wicketkeeper Atiar Rahman, took Bangladesh to a fighting total of 257 at the end of 50 overs.
Naimur, the aggressive right hander, scored an unbeaten 56 off only 34 balls while Atiar was undefeated with a run-a-ball 17.
In reply, Ireland A were shot out for 150 in 39.5 overs in the face of some inspirational bowling from Khaled Mahmud. The right-arm medium-pacer, who ripped through the lower order, finished with three for 24 from his 5.5 overs while his skipper Akram Khan and left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique evenly shared four wickets.
Akram, in his unusual role as slow medium bowler, took two wickets at the cost of 15 runs while Rafique captured two for 21 runs. Besides, leg spinner Tanveer and new ball bowler Zakir bagged one wicket apiece.
Bangladesh are on a six-week tour of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland as part of their preparation for the 1999 World Cup in England.