Sports Desk:

Opener Iftekhar Hossain Ifti hit a brilliant century as Bangladesh Emerging team reached 242-7 on Day 1 of the second and final four-day game against South African Emerging team at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Ifti struck 109 off 191, hitting 14 boundaries and bailed the side out of

danger after a sensational middle order collapse that saw the local team reduced to 58-5.

Moin Khan made 91 and gave Ifti an ably support to keep the side rolling.

The rot began with the dismissal of Ashiqur Rahman Shibli who made a century in the previous game as Bangladesh opted to bat first.

Andile Charles was the wrecker-in-chief, having ended the day with 3-20.

Tshepo Innocent Ntuli grabbed 2-63 to complement him.After Andile and Ntuli forced Bangladesh’s slump, Ifti and Moin shared 179-run for the sixth wicket stand to turn the table.

Moin missed out his ton by nine runs when Dian Forrester removed him. He smote 15 boundaries in his 159-ball-knock.

Apart from the duo, no other batters reached double digits so far.

At stumps, Rakibul Hasan was batting on 2 with Ripon Mondol who is yet to open his account.