The Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB) XI were practically knocked out of the Mom ud

Dow la invitational tournament when they narrowly went flown to a strong India Cement outfit In their third group match played in the Indian city of Hyderabad yesterday

According to a fax transmission received at the BCCB office yesterday, the Bangladesh outfit lost the keenly contested encounter by 8 runs when the local boys prevailed winners in a baltle-of nerves In a highly exciting finish.

The loss, their second In three encounters, puts the touring side out of contention for a place In the semis. On the other hand, the India Cement team booked their slot in the last four with yesterday's result, their third victory in a row.

Sent in to bat at the NFC

ground India Cement could only muster a moderate 168 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the alloted 50 avers despite their bag full of highly experienced players

Opener Ajay Jadeja, a regular member of the Indian Test side top scored with 44 runs before bekig brilliantly stumped by Jahangir He was followed by tafl-ender Gokul Krishna who remained unbeaten on 40.

Rahul Dravid who has notable experience as a mem her of the Indian A team and as an occasional one-day In ternational batsman, scored 22 while Sunil and Venkatesh ran for 14 and 13 respectively

Left-arm spinner Rafique returned with a wonderful performance of economical yet effective bowling when he took two wickets giving away only 13 runs In his ten owes, which included four maidens Sujon and Anis also took two wickets each

In reply. BCCB were JI out for 160 runs with five

balls of their quota remaining

Skipper Akram Khan amassed a handy 37 while Mont chipped in with a late 22 Jahangir and Golla scored 19 and 18 respectively.

The tourists needed nine runs to win from the last over with only one wicket intact but it all came to an end when Saiful was run-out in the first ball of the penultimate over bowled by Gokul Krishna

Jadeja Krishna and Venkatesh captured two wickets each for the victors.

BRIEF SCORES

India Cement: 168/7 in 50 overs A Jadeja 44. G Krishna 40 not out. Rahul Dravid 22 Sunil 14. Venkatesh 13 and extras 16. Rafique 2/13 Sujon 2/19 and Anis 2/42

BCCB: 160/10 in 49.1 overs Akram 37. Mont 22. Jahangir 19. Golla 18. Athar All and Durjov 10 each) G Krishna 2/19 Venkatesh 2/23 and Jedeja 2/23.