Bangladesh A bowler takes nine wickets in an innings

Bangladesh A bowler takes nine wickets in an innings

By Shiamak Unwalla

Sep 15, 2014

Saqlain Sajib was instrumental in trundling Zimbabwe A for 206 in the first innings of the first unofficial Test at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh A left-arm spinner grabbed nine for 82 in just over 31 overs.

Apart from captain Vusi Sibanda (62) and wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva (64), none of the Zimbabwean batsmen showed much fight. For his part, Sajib snared the first five wickets as well as the last four wickets in dream spell that read 31.1-6-82-9. The 25-year-old Sajib is yet another in Bangladesh’s already impressive line-up of left-arm spinners, the most recent of whom was Taijul Islam, who announced himself with a five-wicket haul on debut against West Indies.

In 52 First-Class matches, Sajib has captured a healthy 229 wickets at a staggering average of 21.7 and strike rate of 45. If he continues his impressive run of form, he could find himself in the national squad sooner rather than later.