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Marvellous Mahmud

Result: Bangladesh won by 5 runs

Khaled Mahmud became a hero only after Bangladesh's first World Cup official warm-up match against a county team. He hammered an unbeaten 108 against Essex on Saturday, said a report on internet.

``Forget Sanath Jayasuriya - Khaled Mahmud could be the man at World Cup 99,'' said popular Sky Sports, after the first century in warm-up matches, in its web report with the headline ``Mahmud Is The Man.''

``While heavyweights Australia and the West Indies sat and watched the rain tumble down at their warm-up matches at Cardiff and Bristol, Mahmud was whipping up a storm of his own for Bangladesh at Chelmsford,'' it said.

Sky Sports further said: ``Jayasuriya stunned the 1996 World Cup with his attacking approach and Mahmud's effort surely would have brought back memories.''

Mahmud came into the game with an international one-day high score of 47, scored on debut against India. Since then he managed just another 83 runs in five internationals for an average of 26.40.

The experienced all-rounder smashed an undefeated 108 off 91 balls as the World Cup minnows ran away with a five-run win against last season's Benson & Hedges Cup champions, Essex.

Mahmud reached his first fifty off 65 balls, but he needed another 25 balls to reach the three figure mark. He smashed seven fours and five sixes to propel Bangladesh to 263 for seven with good contribution from Akram Khan (58), Aminul Islam (43) and Khaled Mashud (23).

Rain during the afternoon lifted Essex's required run rate over six an over, the chase being 205 from 34 overs, but Essex ended their 34 overs on 199 for eight, five runs short.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, who turns 29 next Saturday, claimed four wickets. Another slow left armer Enamul Haq and skipper Aminul Islam took two wickets each giving away 23 and 41 runs respectively.