Mukidul, Khaled shine on third day as practice match ends in a draw

The three-day practice match between the BCB XI and the West Indies ended in a draw at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. Players of both teams got good practice ahead of the series which is due to commence on February 3.

The West Indies started the third and final day with 179 for five, with the lead being 276. Nkrumah Bonner couldn't add anything to his overnight score as he was caught behind for 80 off pacer Khaled Ahmed. Mukidul Islam got rid of Rahkeem Cornwall soon after. But Joshua Da Silva and Raymon Reifer stitched a very useful partnership of 82 for the 8th wicket. Silva fell for 46 but Reifer was unbeaten on 49. The West Indies were all-out for 291, setting up a huge target of 389 for the BCB XI. 

For the BCB XI, Mukidul Islam stood out with the ball. The right-arm pacer picked up four wickets. Khaled Ahmed was again impressive, taking three wickets. Part-timers Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy chipped in with two and one respectively. 

In reply, Saif Hassan once again failed to show some resilience. He fell a victim to Raymon Reifer scoring only 7. Reifer, after batting well, performed with the ball too. He got rid of Naim Sheikh as well after getting Saif. 

Yasir Ali, who came in at four, played some shots to remain unbeaten on 33. But it was Shadman Islam who, after showing signs of grinding it out in the first innings, kept his wicket intact for two hours in the second. He negotiated 81 deliveries safely, scoring 23 with one boundary. Shadman is likely to get the nod as Tamim Iqbal's opening partner in the first Test as Saif Hassan failed on both occasions. The result was decided when BCB XI were on 63 for two.

On the other hand, the West Indies players had great preparation as well. Their skipper Kraigg Brathwaite scored a patient 85 in the first innings. Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell and Joshua Da Silva got some runs under their belt as well. Windies spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Jomel Warrican bowled brilliantly, the former getting a five-wicket haul.

Khaled Ahmed was very impressive in both innings with the ball for the BCB XI, picking up six wickets in the match. The right-arm fast bowler can consider himself slightly unlucky to have been dropped from the final squad for the Test series against the West Indies as he troubled the batsmen big time. Mukidul Islam had a terrific outing with the ball in the second innings. Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain had his share in the first innings. He picked up five for 75 in the first innings but went wicketless in the second.

West Indies and Bangladesh will face each other in the first of two tests in Chattogram that will begin on February 3. The teams will return to Dhaka after the first Test to play the second Test in Mirpur which will begin on February 3.