Result: Bangladesh won by 121 runs.
Player-of-the-match: Aminul Islam.
KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Bangladesh ambled into the semifinals of the Second Asian Cricket Council (ACC) trophy when the holders worked their way to a comprehensive 121-run win over Singapore at the Tribhuvan University ground today.
The resounding victory, Bangladesh's second on a trot, was sealed when Singapore, chasing a huge Bangladesh total of 279 for nine in 47 overs, could manage only 158 runs for eight wickets before exhausting their share of overs. The match was reduced by three overs due to wet ground condition prevailing in the morning.
With this win, Bangladesh topped group A with five points from three outings, reducing their tomorrow's match against Maldives to only academic appeal.
The day, to some extent, turned out to be prolonged for Bangladesh, who at one stage sent Singapore reeling to 99 for five but were denied of an early victory by an obdurate Zubeen Shroff who scored an unbeaten 73.
Hot on the heels of their thumping 141-run victory over Malaysia on Monday, it was once against a collective effort from the recharged batteries of Aminul and Co that stymied the sub-standard but spirited Singapore side.
Bangladesh had half their job done when, aided by half centuries from captain Aminul Islam and Faruque Ahmed, followed by a breezy 48 from Al-Shahriar, they piled on a massive score.
Bangladesh, however, had an uncomfortable start when, sent into bat by Singapore skipper Kiran Deshpande, they lost both their openers Shahriar Hossain and Javed Omar Belim, no thanks to the controlled bowling of new-ball duo, Reginald Martens and Joshua Dearing.
Dearing, the 19-year-old right-arm seamer who plays cricket in Queensland, was the most impressive among the two with his natural out swingers and occasional short pitch deliveries.
The youngest cricketer among the ageing lot drew first blood in the 13th over. He had an itchy-feet Shahriar caught at point for 12.
His partner Martens then captured the wicket of Javed, highest scorer (79) against Malaysia, at 21, leaving Bangladesh at 37 for two in 13.4 overs. Javed hammered five fours in his chancy 46-ball knock.
But once the two were removed from the firing line, Bangladesh took the wind out of the Singapore sail with Aminul and Faruque playing sensibly. The two experienced campaigners put on 123 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation of the huge total.
Aminul, who played some elegant shots in his polished knock, scored 56 off 62 balls, which included a sweetly-timed six over extra cover and three fours.
Faruque, playing his first match in the tournament, hammered a strokeful 58 off 74 balls, studded with half a dozen fours and a huge six over long-on.
But both returned in quick succession.
The enterprising part of the Bangladesh innings came when vice-captain Khaled Mahmud and Al-Shahriar pushed on the accelerator. Bangladesh had got off to a slow start scoring their first 50 in 15.2 overs, 100 in 26.5 overs and 150 in 32.2 overs. But Mahmud and Al-Shahriar virtually sent the opponents on a leather hunt in the last ten overs. Bangladesh reached 200 in 37.2 overs and the 250 came in 43.3 overs.
Al-Shahriar, the more aggressive of the two, smashed a whirlwind 48 off 28 balls, which included three sixes, two consecutive over boundaries against off-spinner Zubeen Shroff. Vice-captain Mahmud chipped in with a rapid-fire 30 off 24 balls.
Singapore were never up in their chase. They lost wickets at regular intervals. Only Zubeen Shroff with an unbeaten 73 of 132 balls stood among the ruins. Among the Bangladeshi bowlers, captain Aminul Islam captured three wickets to complete a savoury day's cricket. The dapper all-rounder was later declared as the player-of-the-match for his virtuoso all-round performance.
But Aminul was not happy with the overall performance of his side. ``Faruque Bhai, Al-Shahriar and Mahmud batted well. Specially Al-Shahriar played a tremendous innings. But I'm not happy with my batting. I should have stayed there,'' said Aminul after the match.
``The bowling department leaves a lot to be desired. We gave 27 extra runs in a total of 158. This is disgusting,'' said the Bangladesh captain.
``The damp wicket caused problems in the morning. But with the progress of the game it became much easier to bat on,'' said Aminul.
Aminul is expecting to make a few changes in tomorrow's match against the Maldives.
``Mushfiq is yet to play a match in the tournament. We might try him tomorrow. But things will be decided after the team meeting in the evening,'' said Aminul.