Young Tigers off to a flying start in U-19 Cricket World Cup

Crush Namibia by 87 runs in rain-hit match

January 14, 2018 00:00:00

Bangladesh captain Saif Hassan plays a shot during the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Namibia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln in New Zealand on Saturday. — BCB

Bangladesh captain Saif Hassan's blistering knock of 84 from 48 balls guided his side to a flying start in the 16-team ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup crushing Namibia by 87 runs in their rain-marred Group C match at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln in New Zealand on Saturday, reports UNB.

Sent in to bat first in one of the opening day's matches of the world event, the Young Tigers collected a mammoth total of 190/4 in the curtailed 20-over-a-side game where half centurions Saif and Mohammad Naim shared a partnership of 97 off 11.3 overs in the 2nd wicket stand.

Man of the match Saif fired three boundaries and five over- boundaries in his half century while Naim hammered of 60 off 43 balls, including eight boundaries and one six.

Saif-Naim pair started their composure after the dismissal of opener Pinak Ghosh (26 off 17b; 4x4) from 33/1 in 4 overs and finished on 130/2 in 15.3 overs as Naim was caught by Mauritius Valentine Ngupita off legbreak Petrus Burger.

Saif continued till the end of his side's final collection before he was caught by Erich van Mollendorff off Ben Shikongo in the innings last ball. All-rounder Afif Hossain (11 off 12b; 1x4) was another double digit scorer for Bangladesh.

D Nell, P Burger, S Fouche and B Shikongo took one wicket each for 22, 31, 35 and 36 runs respectively.

Chasing their target, Namibians were restricted to 103/6 in 20 overs spurred by a half century of 55 runs by Eben van Wyk. Eben van Wyk played the innings off 52 balls to fire six boundaries and two sixes before being bowled out by pacer Hasan Mahmud on 102/6 in 19.4 overs.

Spin bowler Towhid Hridoy found N Loftie-Eaton (24 off 26b; 4x4) being bowled on 81/5 in 14.4 overs while P Burger (11* off 19b; 1x6) was another double digit scorer for the side.

Hasan Mahmud and Qazi Onik captured two wickets each for 12 and 14 runs respectively while Towhid Hridoy conceded an economic four runs for one wicket.

In their remaining group battles, Bangladesh will play Canada and England on January 15 and 18 respectively.