Result: Bangladesh won by seven wickets

Seamer Shafiuddin Ahmed took five wickets to help Bangladesh to a flying start in the second leg of their tour of UK and Ireland with a facile seven-wicket victory over Radlett Cricket Club at the Radlett ground in London on Thursday. Radlett are Hertfordshire Premier League champions.

In a rain-curtailed 45-over-a-side affair, Shafiuddin, the tall right-arm medium-pace new-ball bowler, ripped through the Radlett top order capturing five wickets for only 19 runs from his allotted nine overs. Much to his credit, the hosts were restricted to a meagre 112 for nine in the stipulated 45 overs.

Shafiuddin was ably supported by left-arm spinner Enamul Haque who finished with two for 10 from nine overs which included four maidens. Offee Naimur Rahman and slow medium-pacer Athar Ali shared the other two wickets.

In reply, Bangladesh reached 113 for the loss of three wickets with more than 18 overs to spare. Middle-order bat Minhazul Abedin top-scored with 37 followed by vice-captain Aminul Islam who chipped in with an undefeated 26. The duo added an unbeaten 51 for the fourth wicket to take Bangladesh home without further damage after the tourists lost three batsmen with only 62 on the board.

Left-handed opener Mohammad Rafique (4) returned with Bangladesh on 15 while his much experienced right-handed partner Athar Ali (12) was out with the team tottering on 24. However, one-down Faruque Ahmed (23) and Minhazul Abedin held the reins with a 38-run third wicket partnership. Faruque departed with the visitors on 62.

Bangladesh, who are now on a 45-day long tour of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, will take on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Eleven in their next match at the Shenley ground in London tomorrow.