Saiful iBlain bow led Bangladesh to 1 heir third nutces sive win In the Pepsi ACC Trophy as they Inflicted a tliumpin gnme

wi< het defeat on lowly Brunei al the Rubber Research Inatitute (RR1) ground In Kuala Luinpur. Malaysia according to a taxed massage received here last night.

The national right-aim seamer captured four wickets for only 21 runs in his ten nippy overs after Brunel, elect ing to bat after winning the toss could muster 129/9 in their share of 50 overs.

In reply. Bangladesh, a firm contender for the only non-Test playing member-nations slot in the next Asia Cup. rattled up 133/ 1 in only 24 overs to al most confirm their semifinal berth from Group A in the 12-nation meet

Bangladesh, who are certain to top the group, will play their next match against Japan tomorrow before meeting Hong Kong in the their last group league match on September 1 1

In the day s match Bangladesh, fresh after their convincing victories against Nepal and Fiji, were hardly troubled by an unheralded Brunei despite the absence of skipper Akram Khan, who was nursing a sore muscle

With vice-captain Aminul Islam Bulbul leading the side in what appeared to be another ego nursing act for Bangladesh, the local pace trio of Sajal. Anis and Saiful simply ran over the Brunei batsmen, who were hardly capable of negotiating the fireballs.

Sajal. who opened the attack with left-arm seamer Anlsur Rahman, struck in the very first over removing Brunei opener Maccmann for one. The young quicky. a wee bit expensive. also featured In the fall of the last wicket to finish with two tor 31 in his 10 overs.

On the other hand. Anis was rather unfortunate to return wicketless. But his figure of 10-4 19 0 suggests the accuracy and consistency of his line and length.

Saiful Islam, returning the most successful bowler on the ilay came as first change to rip through the top and middle or dei of Brunei, who kept on losing wickets at regular intervals

Among the Brunei willow wtelders, non-striking opener Alase (201. one down Mcroe (J 9), middle order bat SanjetAa (22) and Mansur Ahmed with an unbeaten 19 were the notable contributors to thetr paltry to tai Faciug a simple task o( scoring less than three runs per over, opener Harunur Rashid Uton and Shahriar Hossain Bidyut gave Bangladesh a rol licking start, putting on 70 runs for the first wicket before young Bidyut departed for a patient 36

Uton. who remained un beaten on a polished 66. then steered his side to a facile vic tory sharing another 63 runs In the undefeated second wicket with Habibul Bashar Sumon (27 n.o).

United Arab Emirates, an other serious contender for the final berth in the next Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka next year, also posted thetr third consecutive victory to lead the other group after defeating Papua New Guinea by four wk kets

Meanwhile, the manager of the Bangladesh team Gazi Ashraf Hossain Upu who has confirmed that Shanto will miss the whole tournament due to Injury, asked for a replacement of the tall new-ball rxiwler immediately.

The Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB) is expected to send Khaled Masud Sujon, a useful all rounder tomorrow to fill the void of Shanto, who bruised his right ankle during a practice session in Kuala Lumpur on September 4