Bangladesh A won the Singapore Friendship Cup in style, defeating the hosts by seven wickets in the final encounter of the one-day series of two unequal opponents at Singapore's Kallang Cricket ground yesterday.
With this impressive victory, the touring second string national side clinched the three-match rubber with hundred percent success against the belligerent Singapore, who failed to make any lasting impression against their more illustrious Asian neighbours.
The facile victory of the shadow national team was once again a compliment from Harun-ur Rashid. The balding former national opener smashed a typically aggressive 81 as Bangladesh A, chasing a modest Singapore total of 197 for five in the stipulated 50 overs, raced on to score 198 for three wickets in only 36.5 overs.
It was Harun's third consecutive half-century in the series. The stockily-built right-hander, who missed a century in the previous match by five runs, appeared well on course to reach the magical three figure mark before being caught and bowled by Sunder Mani, the most successful Singapore bowler with three for 30 runs in his 10 overs.
Harun gave Bangladesh a flying start, sharing 120 runs with Azam Iqbal, who celebrated his maiden call to the national team with a fluent 36. After the departure of Harun, Bangladesh A slumped to 152 for three before a breezy unbeaten 42 by Al-Shahriar throttled the visitors home without further damage.
Earlier, sent into bat, Singapore recovered from a disappointing start to a fighting total, thanks to a 144-run third-wicket partnership between Zubin Shroff and Joshua Dearing. Coming into bat at number three with Singapore reeling at 32 for two, Shroff scored a brilliant 85 while Dearing made 71.
Among the Bangladeshi bowlers, right-arm seamer Shafiuddin Ahmed returned most impressive with two for 23 runs in his 10 niggling overs. His new-ball partner Zakir took two wickets giving away 42 runs.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to return home today.
Result: Bangladesh A won the match by seven wickets.