Warm-up Match: Middlesex v Bangladesh CricInfo - 10 May 1999 CricInfo report

Bangladesh Make it two out of two

It may appear to be a mathematical exercise to the untrained eye, but the Duckworth-Lewis rules do a lot to compensate teams batting first whose buildup of their scoring rate is disturbed by rain interruptions. Yesterday at Southgate this compensation worked in Bangladesh's favour.

Bangladesh won their second official warmup game after were required to score 32 more runs than them, and failed to make all but twelve of their target.

On a good batting strip, Bangladesh scored 203 for 2 in 43.4 overs before rain brought their innings to a close. Akram Khan made 80 from 91 deliveries, with opener Shahriar Hossain contributing 52 and captain Aminul Islam 36 not out. Middlesex's bowling attack lacked any international presence, Angus Fraser being in the World Cup squad and Phil Tufnell being given the day off.

It would normally be safe to assume that a batting side would score at a faster rate over 43 overs, if they knew in advance that they had 43 overs to face, than if they thought they had 50 overs to face. With that in mind, the Duckworth-Lewis method calculated that Bangladesh's 203 was worth 234 if they had known they were only facing 43 overs. Middlesex therefore were set 235 to win in their 43.

Despite some good scores from Paul Weekes (63), Justin Langer (48) and Mark Ramprakash (53*), Middlesex could only muster 223 for 6. In the days of other, much-criticised rain-rule calculation methods, this would have meant a comfortable victory for the county side. Bangladesh's spin trio of Emanul Hoque (1/37), Mohammad Rafique (1/35) and Minhajul Abedin (2/40) showed that they should not be treated lightly.

Bangladesh finish their warmup program on Wednesday with a game against the Steelbacks of Northampton.