Tigers warm up with clinical show

All three departments performed pleasingly as Bangladesh had a good outing in their practice game, ahead of their Nidahas Trophy opener against India tomorrow, registering a comfortable 41-run win over Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI at the Colombo Cricket Club ground yesterday.

With there being no toss before the game, Bangladesh opted to bat and posted 185 for five in 20 overs and bundled the home side out for 145 runs in 19 overs.

The Tigers rode on a blistering start from opener Liton Das -- included in the tour squad at the last moment as replacement for injured skipper Shakib Al Hasan -- who displayed some power hitting, before Mushfiqur Rahim and stand-in captain Mahmudullah Riyad played innings of substance to help post a challenging total.

Soumya Sarkar departed for a first-ball duck off pacer Asitha Fernando when he missed a flick and was bowled. Sabbir Rahman, coming in at number three, disappointed as he fell scooping seamer Jehan Daniels straight to short fine leg for one off 10 deliveries.

"We expect more from him, especially in the T20 format, as he can clear the boundary and play big shots. It has been missing for quite some time now but I hope he can make a comeback soon," selector Habibul Bashar told reporters when asked about Sabbir's performance.

From 14 for two inside the first three overs Liton utilised his shot at a possible opening spot alongside Tamim Iqbal, who was rested for the practice game, as he added 50 runs for the third wicket with Mushfiqur. Having hit four fours and three sixes, Liton was eventually dismissed for 40 off just 18 balls when he was caught at midwicket going for a flick off the bowling of Tikshila De Silva.

Joining Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah continued the attack. The skipper struck a straight six off chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan and Mushfiqur joined the party, striking a majestic six over cover to take 18 runs off the over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman reached his 50 in 39 balls as he added 74 for the fourth wicket with Mahmudullah. Mushfiqur struck a flat six off pacer Kumara but was caught at deep midwicket in the very next ball for the top score of 65 off 44 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Mahmudullah scored 47 off 27 balls with two fours and three sixes before being dismissed by Kumara but despite a great platform to cross 200 Bangladesh added just 38 runs in the last five overs. Ariful Haque remained unbeaten on 15 off 12 balls and Nurul Hasan was unbeaten on 12 off nine balls.

Pacers Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed then picked up two wickets each, conceding 19 and 16 runs respectively from three overs as the batting side lost wickets at regular intervals.

Opener Niroshan Dickwella, who struck Rubel for a six and consecutive boundaries to start the innings, was eventually dismissed by the same bowler for the team-highest 27 off 13 balls.

Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam and part-time medium-pacer Soumya Sarkar picked up a wicket each.

"There is no point being bogged down after losing early wickets. I tried to play the shots I have in my book," said Liton, "I have played some good matches in the Dhaka League and that affected me positively today. There was some extra confidence."