Young Tigers suffer 19-run defeat

Bangladesh under-19 team lost to Afghanistan U-19 team by 19 runs in the fourth youth one-day international of the five-match series at Sylhet on Friday.

The Afghans won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, and they managed 210-8 runs in 50 overs as Bilal Ahmed scored 60 runs.

Chasing 211 runs, the young Tigers had a good start as openers Mahfijul Islam (26 runs) and Iftekhar Hossain (18 runs) put on a half-century stand, but after them, Bangladesh lost too many wickets in a trot. From 52-0, Bangladesh became 91-5 in just 10 overs.

Unbeaten 50 from Tahjibul Islam took Bangladesh close, but it was yet so far, and the young Tigers faced the first defeat in the series.

Bangladesh were all out for 191 runs in 44.2 overs, losing the match by 19 runs that made the series 3-1.

All the Afghan bowlers did pretty well, but among them, Shahidullah Hasani and Nangeyalia Kharote were the most economical. Both bowlers bagged two wickets each.

The fifth and last youth ODI of the series will take place on Sunday. Then both the teams will lock horns in a four-day match starting from September 22. – TBP