Faruque scored a dazzling 82 off 87 balls as the second string national team, chasing a modest Singapore total of 181 all out in the stipulated 50 overs, reached the target of 182 losing one wicket and with more than 19 overs to spare.

The former national captain, who was left out in the lurch after leading Bangladesh in Kenya in the infamous ICC mission way back in 1994, shared in a match-winning partnership with opener Harun-ur Rashid after Azam Iqbal had departed for only 10.

Harun, the balding right-hander, smashed a whirlwind 79-ball 71 before retiring hurt. He and Faruque were so hostile against the toothless opponent attack that the Singapore skipper had to use as many as nine bowlers to put an end to the partnership.

But the player-of-the-match award went to right-arm seamer Safiuddin Ahmed, who with figures of four for 26 in nine overs destroyed the Singapore top and middle-order. The accurate bowling of Safiuddin, who was dropped from the India-bound Bangladesh squad on grounds of lack of form, hardly allowed the local batsmen to have a go. Wickets fell at regular intervals with leg-spinner Tanvir Khan providing the fitting support for Safiuddin. The young leggie claimed the wickets for 31 runs in his 7.3 overs.

For Singapore, an ICC associate-member nation, Zubin and Johann Pieries contributed 43 runs apiece. Bangladesh A will take on the same side in the second match of the Friendship Cup tomorrow.

Result: Bangladesh won by nine wickets.