New Zealand-bound Bangladesh cricketer* showed all signs of an inauspicious vu-Ine-raoility Just forty-eight hours prior to their departure when they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh B in their lone preparatory match at the Dhaka Stadium yesterday.

Al Shahriar Rokon smashed an unbeaten half-century as the Bangladesh B. chasing a not-so-impressive national team total of 153 in the stipulated 50 overs, rattled up 157 for the loss of only two wickets and with more than 15 overs to spare.

The rated young right-hander. coming into bat at number three, walloped his way to a dazzling 66 to make light work of what others thought a daunting task of scoring runs on an underprepared wicket at the big bowl. The tall natural strokemaker raced to his 50 off only 59 balls and then ended the chase of the shadow naUonal team by pulling rookie national off-spinner Jewel Hossain Mona for a huge six over long-off.

Former national skipper Faruque Ahmed, who led the second-string national side, remained unbeaten at the other end on 13 when Rokon completed the senior-bashing with the willow.

For Aminul Islam Bulbul, the vice-captain of the national team who led a depleted side in the absence of skipper Akram Khan, it was yet another nightmarish experience where his boys were engaged in a shameful display of a senseless

batting and sub-standard fielding. Earlier on Sunday. Aminul-led Mohammedan Sporting Club went down to arch-rivals Abahani Krira Chakra by a huge 73-run.

The dapper right-hander however scored a gritty 23 in the paltry total of a new-look national team. But apart from a typical 39 from a doughty opener Javed Omar Belim Golla and a defiant unbeaten 34 from middle-order bat Hasanuzzaman. none of the national warriors had shown the urge to justify their selection.

Aminul won the toss in the morning . but his intention to throw a challenging total soon backfired when the national team were reduced to 96 for five in 34.5 overs.

Hasanuzzaman and Mofizur Rahman Munna tried to steady the rocking boat by putting on 27 runs for the sixth wicket Bui once all-rounder Naimur Rahman, Ignored for the New Zealand tour, had Munna caught by Bidyut at long-off for 12. their hope for a face-saving total on the board was petered out.

The Naimur-Bidyut combination then went on to be accounted for the fragile tail of the national team with the off-spinner claiming four wicket* for 28 in his eight overs.

Bidyut. who had a happy catching in the deep, also gave Bangladesh B a flying start with a disciplined 37. The young opener, who shared 46 runs with Azam Iqbal (22). featured in an enterprising 74 runs for the second wicket with Rokon before his 85-ball vigil came to an end in the 29th over, but not

before guiding Bangladesh B closer to a resounding victory having put on 12o runs altogether.