Home ›› 02 Feb 2022 ›› Sport
Even a fine ton from Ariful Islam could not save Bangladesh under-19 team from another defeat in the ICC U-19 World Cup as the junior Tigers lost to Pakistan by six wickets at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua on Monday.
Earlier, Bangladesh lost to India in the Super-League quarterfinals which pushed them to the 5th Place Play-off semi-final against Pakistan.
Rakibul Hasan, Bangladesh U19 captain won the toss and decided to bat. They failed to make a decent start against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Only Ariful Islam managed to hold one end, but his comrades failed to support him. Bangladesh’s innings was clearly based on Ariful’s innings as out of 175 runs 100 came from his bat,
He arrived at the crease in the 12th over with his side on 23 for three and set about guiding them to a competitive total.
Ariful had fallen for single figure scores in his two previous innings at this tournament but quickly found his groove here and brought up his half-century with a glorious six over long-on.
The 17-year-old continued to lose partners – Mehran Mumtaz proving particularly potent with three for 16 from his 10 overs – but kept his composure and accelerated at the death, striking three sixes in one Awais Ali over to move into the nineties.
His century, from 118 balls, arrived midway through the 49th over but Islam fell to the next delivery – the ninth wicket to fall in an innings which was ended on 175 with four balls remaining.
Muhammad Shehzad and Haseebullah Khan started confidently in reply, adding 76 in 19 overs before the former fell for 36.
Irfan Khan (24) was unfortunate to be run out backing up and Qasim Akram fell for a single but Abdul Faseeh’s unbeaten 22 saw Pakistan home with 21 balls to spare.
On Thursday, Bangladesh to play South Africa for the right to finish seventh.
