Tour match

Bangladesh start first warm-up with cool reception from Surrey

• Surrey 318-7dec
• Bangladesh 12-0

Vic Marks at The Oval
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 9 May 2010 19.14 BST

Surrey's Matthew Spriegel celebrates after reaching 100 against Bangladesh. Photograph: Matthew Impey/EMPICS Sport

There are several reasons why Bangladesh would have liked to progress to the Super Eights of the World Twenty20. One of them is that they would have been spared playing in 8C at a deserted Oval against what is almost Surrey's second team – though the county have been performing so poorly lately that it is hard to tell what might be considered their best side.
However, they say that no time is ever wasted in reconnaissance and having mustered every sweater available, the first tourists of the summer went about their acclimatisation to English conditions with as much enthusiasm as one could reasonably expect. When the hands of their fielders were thrust deep into trouser pockets it was a sign of self-preservation rather than haughty resignation.
The only thing familiar to the Bangladesh team was the pace of the pitch, which offered the sort of low, slow bounce that is usually more redolent of Chittagong than Kennington. Otherwise everything was new to a touring side who have the same average age as this motley Surrey team – 23.
This will be a tough tour for Bangladesh. It may not get any warmer but the pitches will get bouncier, the bowlers faster and the batsmen better. Respectability plus the acquisition of some valuable experience, rather than victory, must be their goal.
Bangladesh's most charismatic player, Tamim Iqbal, is not involved in this match. He has an injury to his left wrist which prevented him playing in Bangladesh's Twenty20 match in Barbados last week. He is seeing a specialist in London this week. Everyone, except perhaps the England bowling attack, hopes that this wonderfully aggressive left-hander will be fit in time for the first Test.
Today their other "stars" remained anonymous in the gloaming. The captain, Shakib Al Hasan, who is Worcestershire‑bound later in the season, bowled half a dozen creaky overs of left-arm spin; Mushfiqur Rahim kept wicket efficiently enough.
If any of the tourists ever recalls this day in south London with any affection it will be Robiul Islam. He is a lively little pace bowler and the only member of the party not to have played a Test; today he took three wickets, though not in a manner that will have Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook enduring sleepless nights.
Bangladesh had Surrey languishing at 135 for six but then, I think, frostbite set in and so did two of the more experienced members of the county side. Matt Spriegel hit an unbeaten 118 and Stuart Meaker 94 in a 187‑run partnership.
Upon Meaker's dismissal Chris Schofield declared but the Bangladesh openers survived until the close while their colleagues sought to restore vital body heat back in the dressing room.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/09/surrey-bangladesh-tour-match