Bangladesh A - West Indies A Series
Joy’s ton leads Bangladesh A to draw against Windies
|| CF DESK ||
Mahmudul Hasan Joy's heroic hundred helped Bangladesh A battle hard and earn a draw in the third and final unofficial Test match against West Indies A on Friday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Even though the hosts were on the back foot for the whole of this Test match, Joy was unbeaten on 114 runs in a long innings that lasted 268 balls to guide the hosts to safety.
Resuming the day on 47 for no loss and a requirement of 414 runs for an improbable victory, Joy showed the stubbornness that needed to save the Test from the knife-edge of a defeat.
Joy smashed 14 fours for his 268-ball knock for which he stayed in the crease for 422 minutes as Bangladesh closed the fourth and final day on 306-4, after being set 461-run to win the game.
He and his opening partnership Zakir Hasan added 93-run for the opening stand to give the side a fuel to fight back. After Zakir's departure for 43, Bangladesh experienced a hiccup as the likes of Mominul Haque (5) and captain Saif Hassan (38) were removed in quick succession.
Joy then combined for a 117-run partnership with Yasir Ali to frustrate the visitors. Yasir who looked compact was out on 67 after hitting six fours and four sixes.
Accompanied by Shahadat Hossain Dipu who was not out on 20, Joy saw off the day to salvage a draw for the side.
Earlier, electing to bat first, West Indies A put up 445 before being all out in their first innings. They thereafter took a 240-run lead, bowling Bangladesh A out for just 205.
The batting performances would make it difficult for national team selectors to decide who to pick in Shakib Al Hasan's injury absence.
Joy will undoubtedly be on the minds of the selectors, but Zakir and Yasir have increased their prospects as well.
West Indies A won the second Test after drawing the first, resulting in a 1-0 loss for Bangladesh in the three-match unofficial Test series.