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Hope, Powell and Soumya find form ahead of first Test

West Indians 303 for 7 dec (Hope 88, Powell 72, Nayeem 2-104) drew with BCB XI 232 for 5 (Soumya 78, Shadman 73, Gabriel 2-24)

Shai Hope, Kieran Powell and Soumya Sarkar struck fifties in the two-day practice match between West Indians and the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI that ended in a draw at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Soumya, who earned a Test call-up after nearly a year, was the BCB XI's top-scorer with 78. His knock came off 103 balls and included 10 fours and three sixes.

West Indians batted first, with Hope hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 112-ball 88. Powell scored 72 off 142 balls with six fours and a six. They added 145 runs for the second wicket, before Hope retired out to allow the middle order to have a hit. But Sunil Ambris (17), Roston Chase (35), Shimron Hetmyer (24) and Shane Dowrich (24) only managed brief stays, before the visitors declared at 303 for 7 in the 87th over.

Seventeen-year-old offspinner Nayeem Hasan, who earned a Test call-up as well, bowled the most, taking 2 for 104 from 26 overs. Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Fazle Mahmud and Soumya chipped in with a wicket each.

In response, the openers led the way for BCB XI, putting on 126, before Soumya perished to Jomel Warrican's left-arm spin. Partner Shadman Islam, the highest scorer of this NCL season, went on to get 73 in a knock that included 10 fours and a six.

Shannon Gabriel took two wickets for the visitors, while Kemar Roach and Warrican took one each.

BCB XI 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st126Soumya SarkarShadman Islam
2nd47Shadman IslamNajmul Hossain Shanto
3rd14Mohammad MithunShadman Islam
4th29Mohammad MithunZakir Hasan
5th6Mohammad MithunLitton Das
6th10Fazle MahmudMohammad Mithun