HPC planning to push for outright win

KHULNA, Bangladesh, CMC – KHULNA, Bangladesh – The Sagicor HPC team is hoping to push for outright victory, weather permitting, when their four day match against the Bangladesh Cricket Academy enters its final day here today.

BCB Academy reached 184 for seven, replying to HPC’s first innings total of 534 for nine declared at the close on the third day at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium  yesterday.

Guyanese left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, says if the weather, which has already disrupted the last two days clears, an outright win will be the goal on the final day.

“We have a very good chance of winning”said Permaul who graduated with the first class of the Sagicor HPC but he was included on this tour to beef up the current squad.

“We have to get their last three first innings wickets as quickly as possible before sending them back in and trying to win.”

Meantime, Permaul, the most successful Sagicor HPC bowler with 3-69 from 22 overs, said he had to dig deep to make inroads into their batting.

“For me, I had to bowl to suit the conditions of the pitch. It was low and turning very slowly, so it was important for me to be patient and consistent with my line and length” said Permaul, the incumbent West Indies A-Team captain.

“I had to mix up the pace and try to get the ball in the right areas.”
Permaul’s steady bowling had followed up a solid lower-order contribution of 42 that helped to swell the Sagicor HPC total and further dampen the spirits of the BCB Academy players.

“As you know, I previously attended the Sagicor HPC and I have been working on my batting since I was there,” he said.

“Hopefully, it’s getting better because I have been working really hard on it and I can continue to make decent scores lower in the order.”