Bangladesh A batsmen floundered spectacularly in the second practice game between the national side and the second string at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Bangladesh A were only good enough to post 175 in 46 overs and when the news was last filed, Bangladesh were 94 for two at the end of 27 overs with captain Mohammad Ashraful and Rokibul Hasan at the crease after both openers Tamim Iqbal and Shahriar Nafees fell early.

But even for a practice match, the atmosphere around the ground was much relaxed than usual, maybe because of the nearness of the tri-series, now known as the Kitply Cup. While most of the squad took part in the warm-up game, a few were in the indoor facilities while coach Jamie Siddons made his way to the middle during the match to have small discussions on field placings with captain Mohammad Ashraful and his deputy Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. The fast men, led by Mashrafe, bowled in short spells throughout the innings and it seemed that Shahadat Hossain has not lost his rhythm as he knifed through the batting line-up with his pace and aggression. He finished the game with figures of five for 27.

While Shahadat blossomed, it was quite different for left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak who struggled with his length, evident enough of his three-week stint during which he played only a single match while his colleagues slugged it out in the Premier League last month. Razzak had a hard time bowling to the lefthanders particularly but it seemed that A team captain for the day Zunaed Siddiqui (37 off 63 balls) matched his struggle The discarded left-hander found It very hard to pierce the gaps while playing the spinners, especially off the back-foot So when he offered a

simple catch at short mid-wicket to the highly underrated leg-spin of Alok Kapali, it was no surprise.

But at the other end, Mehrab made sure he remains in the reckoning of selection in the tri-series. The left-hander batted with a lot of ease, stroking (he ball straight and through the covers. Mehrab stroked to 66 off 112 balls that included just four boundaries and a six over long-on.

Right-hander Nayeem Islam (19 off 26 balls) also showed composure for a while but failed to produce the goods on the day, as he skied off-spinner Mahmudullah Riyad while trying to slog-sweep him over mid-wicket where Tamim Iqbal pouched it. Nadif Chowdhury

(12), Dhiman Ghosh (2) and Suharwardi Shuvo (14) followed Nayeem in quick succession before Mehrab's stint at the crease was ended from a Shahadat in-ducker that smashed intq his stumps. Surprisingly, the A team's management decided to send batsman Farhad Hossain at number nine. Predictably, the right-hander made little difference from that position as he meekly surrendered for five. Apart from Shahadat's five-for, Riyad took two wickets while Mashrafe, Abdur Razzak and Kapali •took one each.

But the match seemed to be tedium compared to the work that went on outside. Workers put in the final touches in the galleries and the massive task of setting up wooden seating was in progress in the gallery. The clubhouse area will also get a facelift while the stylish corporate boxes are ready for the spectators. Almost every area of the stadium was accessible but security officers were on overdrive to make sure no stone is unturned in and around the home of cricket.

But all this could be rendered worthless if the Tigers again fail to deliver the goods in their home conditions.