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Bangladesh A, Namibia share Tri-nation title |
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March 24, 2000
A comedy of errors forced Bangladesh A team to share the title of the Tri-nation Malaysian Cricket Challenge tournament for ICC's associate members with Namibia associate members with Namibia after Thursday's final was washed out due to rain in Kuala Lumpur.
Namibia were tow-time lucky to be declared joint champions with the hot favorites Bangladesh who should have been awarded the trophy according to bye-laws.
But the tournament committee stepped outside the law and awarded the honor to both teams 'in better interest cricket', according to a message received in Dhaka.
Bangladesh A were in a commanding position in the final and having scored a respectable 237 for nine in 50 overs, reduced Namibia to 35-3 by the 15th over. An additional ten overs of play would have brought a result but rain ruined the remaining of the day.
Earlier, an erroneous counting before the final showed Namibia with a better run-rate than Bangladesh and they had a chance to win the tournament through the back door in case of a wash-out. But a second count of the run-rate showed Bangladesh (1.41) ahead of their African opponents (1.05).
Bangladesh were declared solo winner at first but later, the tournament committee requested Bangladesh officials to accept the joint championship for the sake of the game.
It was the third time in the tournament that the Bangladesh-Namibia encounters were washed out. The two league matches between the two sides also became victims of the infamous Malaysian rain.
Bangladesh beat Malaysia twice in the league and were in winning situation against Namibia n their second clash. Namibia beat Malaysia once and their remaining matches were washed out. The African side also were in a favorable position against Bangladesh in the two side's first game.
In the final, the Bangladesh A total was built around half centuries by Rajin Saleh and Mushfiq Babu Bangladesh made a poor stars as the two openers were sent back cheaply, Sajid Hasan making 8 and Ashraful 15. But Rajin's 52 and Mushfiq unbeaten 55 helped them set up a difficult chase for the opponents. Skipper Naimur Rahman Durjoy contributed 35 while his national team mate Mehrab Hossan Opee made 26.
The Bangladesh A team is expected to return home today.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh: 237-9 in 50 overs (Sajid 8, Ashraful 15, Rajin 52, Opee 26, Durjoy 35, Mushfiq 55*, Mizan Babu 13, Rafiq 13, Manjurul 2, extras 7).
Namibia: 35-3 in 15 overs (Bikash 1-9, Rafiq 1-7).
Source: The Independent |