Sublime Sabbir

On the face of it, the BCB XI's thrilling one-wicket win over the visiting Pakistani side may just be jotted down as a tour opener which won't even go into the record books as a List A encounter.

However, yesterday's win at Fatullah symbolises something more than statistics and numbers for Bangladesh. The win, after all, was Bangladesh's first ever win in a bilateral tour-match against a Pakistani side and boy did it showcase some drama!

From Sabbir Rahman's fierce 123 to the middle order's ability to fend off a strong Pakistani pace attack and hold on to win, every bit was enjoyed by the 8,000 odd fans who turned up for the practice match.

The second-string Tigers had bowled brilliantly until the 44th over and restricted the visitors to 203 for 8. However the Tigers leaked 65 runs in the last six overs and even failed to bowl the visitors out.

The momentum was with the visitors after the exchange as well as the hosts slumped to 9 for 2 after six overs. Tamim Iqbal -- who decided to play the match less than 24 hours prior to the game in a bid to regain form -- and Rony Talukdar opened and managed nine runs before they both departed with Tamim scoring all nine of the pair's runs.

After 20 overs they were struggling at 96 for 4. A year ago the Tigers would have fallen like a house of cards in this situation, however the new-found spirit after the World Cup changed that.

Sabbir and Imrul Kayes shared a century stand for the fifth wicket. Sabbir hammered eight sixes and seven fours in his 99-ball knock, while Imrul dogged it out with a 56-ball 36.

Mohammad Hafeez later described Sabbir's innings as one of the best he had seen. "It was one of the best innings you will witness as a viewer. He didn't panic. He dominated the bowling."

Sabbir was extremely elated himself.

"Be it a practice match or an international match, this is my first century. I enjoyed it a lot. We won the match and it feels really good."

After Sabbir got out, the hosts lost quick wickets and stumbled to 228 for 8. Shohag Gazi came in at that point and smashed a 28-ball 36 and, along with the help of the tail-enders, managed to edge BCB XI home.

While Hafeez brushed aside the defeat and stated that there would be no extra pressure on the visitors, Sabbir thought otherwise.

"Whenever a team goes outside they tend to break down personally when they lose the first game. Pakistan will think about this defeat. This match will definitely have some sort of impact on them," said Sabbir.

Scores in brief
PAKISTANIS: 268 for 9 (Hafeez 85, Fawad 67 not out; Shuvagata 3-39, Shohid 1-34)
BCB XI: 270 for 9 in 48.5 overs (Sabbir 123, Imrul 36, Shohag 36; Junaid 4-38, Rahat 2-54)
Result: BCB XI won by one wicket.