Hasan sees Bangladesh edge home

St John`s, Antigua, Mar 01: Saqibul Hasan hit his highest one-day international score and took two important wickets, as Bangladesh prevailed over Canada by 13 runs in a compelling final match of the pre-World Cup three-nation series at the Antigua recreation ground.Hasan struck 14 boundaries in an undefeated 134 off 152 balls to help Bangladesh post a competitive 278 for five from their allocation of 50 overs yesterday.

Canada, who famously beat Bangladesh at the 2003 World Cup, fought hard but were restricted to 265 for seven from their 50 overs, as Bangladesh won the series, which had also included Bermuda. Canada made a shaky start, when opener Abdool Samad retired hurt with only one run on the board, then Ashish Bagai was dismissed for a duck to leave his side on one run for one wicket. A stand of 178 between Ian Billcliff, whose 93 off 114 balls including half-dozen fours and a pair of sixes was the top score, and Geoff Barnett, who made 77 off 123 balls which contained six fours and two sixes, put the Canadians on track. The wickets of Barnett and Canadian captain John Davison to Saqibul, as well as the dismissal of Billcliff in the space of a few overs rocked Canada and set them back on 195 for five. Though Asif Mulla scored 44 at better than a run-a-ball to give the Canadians hope, Abdur Razzak snuffed the life out of their fight-back with three wickets for 51 runs off 10 overs to be the most successful Bangladeshi bowler. Saqibul completed a fine all-round performance with two wickets for 36 runs from his allotment of 10 overs. Earlier, Bangladesh also endured a poor start, when they slipped to 30 for three, after Anderson Cummins, the former Barbados and West Indies medium-fast bowler, snared two wickets in the space of three balls. Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar joined Saqibul Hasan at the wicket and they consolidated their side`s innings with a stand of 132 for the fourth wicket. Bashar struck six fours in 57 from 75 balls, and when he was caught behind off Samad, Mohammad Ashraful appeared and played with some enterprise to collect seven fours in 60 from 45 balls to beef-up the Bangladesh total. The win was a timely boost of confidence for Bangladesh, as they played through the competition unbeaten. Canada finished second with one win, and Bermuda ended without a win in the three-match series. Bangladesh and Bermuda have been drawn alongside India and Sri Lanka in Group B of the World Cup. Canada face England, New Zealand, and Kenya in Group C. The World Cup officially opens on March 11 at the Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica, with the first match of the competition between hosts West Indies and Pakistan being played on March 13 at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital, Kingston. Bureau Report