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COX BAZAR. — Bangladesh A left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib blew Zimbabwe A away on the first day of the unofficial four-day match in Cox’s Bazar, as he collected 9 for 82 — the best bowling figures in first-class cricket by a Bangladesh player, beating Abdur Razzak’s 9 for 84 in 2012.

The visitors were bowled out for 206 in their first innings, after which Litton Das and Shadman Islam guided Bangladesh A to 30 for no loss at stumps. Zimbabwe A skipper Vusi Sibanda and Regis Chakabva scored half centuries on a day many of the batsmen failed to flourish.

Sajib started by removing Tino Mawoyo (12) in the 15th over, but Zimbabwe A captain Sibanda and Brian Chari led a recovery by adding 61 for the second wicket. Chari fell to Sajib after lunch, having made 30 off 56 balls, and he was soon followed back to the pavilion by Mark Vermeulen (8).

That third wicket prompted a mid-innings collapse as Zimbabwe A lost their next four wickets for just nine runs. Sibanda was dismissed for 62 off 99 balls with five fours, and was quickly followed by Tinotenda Mutombodzi (0), Luke Jongwe (0) and Tawanda Mupariwa (1), as Zimbabwe A fell to 122 for 7 by the 39th over. — Cricinfo/Sports Reporter