Tanjid Hits Century and Rishad Claims Five Wickets

In a visual display of mismatched kits and top-tier talent, the national side—playing under the moniker BCB XI—triumphed over the BCL One-Day All Stars by 40 runs in a practice match at Mirpur today. While the national stars donned their uniform purple jerseys, the All Stars presented a kaleidoscopic array of colours, as players wore the kits of their respective domestic teams due to a lack of fresh uniforms for the exhibition fixture.

Top-Order Gains and Middle-Order Shifts

With Bangladesh facing a demanding schedule of 22 One-Day Internationals this year and the challenge of securing a top-nine ranking for World Cup qualification, the batting order was the primary focus of the day.

Opening batsman Tanjid হাসান provided the most significant cause for optimism, anchoring the innings with a composed century. After reaching his half-century in 58 deliveries, he accelerated to reach triple figures in 101 balls. Conversely, his partner Saif Hassan struggled for rhythm, managing a sluggish 22 off 47 balls. While middle-order stalwarts Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto failed to capitalise on their starts, the highlight was the resurgence of Litton Das. Following a string of ducks in the top order, Litton flourished in his new middle-order role, striking a brisk 44 off 38 deliveries.

Bowling Brilliance and Late Resistance

The BCB XI set a formidable target of 296, a total that seemed insurmountable when the All Stars were reduced to 157-8 by the 34th over. The collapse was orchestrated by the rising leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who decimated the middle order to finish with figures of 5 for 40.

However, the national bowling attack—aside from Rishad—found it difficult to dismantle the tail. An unexpected 80-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Ripon Mondol and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain frustrated the senior bowlers, eventually guiding the All Stars to a respectable, albeit losing, total of 255.

The match concluded with a 40-run victory for the national representatives, providing the coaching staff with vital data on Litton’s flexibility and Rishad’s evolving threat as a primary spin option.