Akbar hits maiden first-class ton in Dambulla

Akbar Ali, the 2020 U-19 World Cup winning captain of Bangladesh struck a maiden first-class ton in the second four-day game for Bangladesh Emerging side against Sri Lanka Emerging side at Dambulla today.

The young Tigers put on a lower middle-order resistance following an early slump yesterday at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, losing five wickets for 54 runs.

Akbar first put up a 96-run stand for the sixth wicket with Rakibul Hasan, who scored 36 off 119 deliveries.  Akbar would then put on another stand of 85 with Hasan Murad in a solid start to the day's proceedings after the batting slump yesterday.

Hasan departed for a 135-ball 27 but after his departure, Bangladesh innings folded for 251 with Akbar the final wicket to fall, following a 202-ball 129.

Akbar's tremendous innings while batting with the tail was laced with 14 fours and two sixes.

Akbar have not scored a first-class ton in NCL or BCL yet. Selector Abdur Razzak informed The Daily Star that the ton would be counted as a first-class ton after having confirmed with the match referee.

Sri Lanka's 23-year-old right-arm pacer Chamika Gunasekara, who bagged all six wickets yesterday, bagged three more today to finish with nine for 58 in 19.5 overs. Earlier yesterday, bad light stopped play with Bangladesh reaching 153 for six.

The first four-day game ended in a draw after Sri Lanka reached 69 for five in chase of 350 in the fourth innings.