Tigers scotch Scots as Mashrafee becomes year's top wicket-taker

Aftab Ahmed blasted a half century to put Scotland on the rocks in the first of two-match ODI series at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium Thursday. Shahriar Nafees, who scored 36 taking his 2006 total to 1009, became 5th batsman to score a thousand runs this year.

Chittagong, Dec 15 (bdnews24.com) - Aftab Ahmed blasted a half century to spur Bangladesh on to an emphatic six-wicket victory over Scotland in the first of two-match ODI series at Bir Shrestha Shaheed Ruhul Amin Stadium Thursday.

Bangladesh raced to 154 for four in 29.1 overs after cleaning Scotland up for 153 with 29 balls to spare to register their seventh straight ODI win.

It was Bangladesh's day in every sense of the world, as pace spearhead Mashrafee Bin Mortaza became the highest wicket taker in 2006 ahead of Australia seamer Nathan Bracken.

Opening batsman Shahriar Nafees completed the icing on the cake by becoming the first Bangladeshi batsman to have scored 1000 runs in a calendar year.

Bangladesh's opening pair of Shahriar Nafees and Mehrab Hossain Jr, being tried out ahead of the World Cup, however failed to provide the consistency they recently showed against Zimbabwe. Mehrab was caught behind off Douglas Brown for 8, leaving the hosts on 16 for one.

Inform opener Shahriar Nafees and one-down Aftab Ahmed thwarted Scotland's attempt to cash in on the initial breakthrough. They added 92 runs for the second wicket before Aftab (66) was caught by Paul Hoffmann off Ross Thomas Lyon.

Aftab got his 10th ODI fifty blunting Scottish bowlers for nine fours and three sixes in as many deliveries.

Nafees, who joined Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuria, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and West Indies Chris Gayle have also scored 1000 runs this calendar year, soon followed Aftab to the dressing room.

The left-handed opener, started the game 27 runs short of the milestone, scored 36 off 55 balls hitting four fours before being caught by Brown off Rogers.

Captain Habibul Bashar (14) was trapped leg before to leave the side 145 for four. But Sakib Al Hasan (20) and Mohammad Ashraful (4) remained unbeaten to take the team ashore.

Earlier opting to bat first, Scotland slipped into an abyss as new-ball pair of Mashrafee and Shahadat Hossain Rajib removed four top order batsmen for just 57 on board.

Mashrafee became the highest wicket-taker in 2006 when he scalped David Watts (18) for his second wicket. He joined Australian left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken as The joint highest wicket hunter when he removed Navdeep Poonia (0).

Mashrafee has now 47 wickets in 26 matches with another match against Scotland to go in Dhaka Sunday. Bracken has claimed 46 wickets in 23 matches.

Australia's Brett Lee has taken 44 wickets in 26 one-dayers but the world champions do not have another before the start of the new year.

Scotland were 74 for seven at one stage but keeper Ian McCallum (30), Glenn Rogers (28) and Thomas Lyons (20) pushed the visitors beyond the 100-mark.

Spinners bowled superbly to remove four batsmen while pacers grabbed five wickets.

Shahadat grabbed three wickets for 38 while Abdur Razzak and Mashrafee joined the party with two wickets each for 16 and 46.

Man of the match Sakib Al Hasan finished his 10-over spell with four maidens, 13 runs and one wicket.

bdnews24.com/mp/ar/bd/1925hrs