Mahmudul Hasan Joy smashed a scintillating 95 ball-103 as Bangladesh Under-19 team secured the five-match one-day series against New Zealand counterpart with eight-wicket victory in the third match at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Sunday.
Having done so, Bangladesh won three straight matches to complete a series victory with two matches to go. They beat the hosts by identical six wickets margin in the first two matches.
New Zealand put up 223-8 after being sent to bat first, thanks to a stubborn 116 from Fergus Lellman but Mahmudul, who fell for nervous 99 in the last match, put a shed on him, helping Bangladesh to reach 229-2 in just 36.5 overs and thereby completed a series victory with two matches to spare.
He shared two important partnerships to drive the side home after Bangladesh U19 lost the opener Anik Sarker Shatu with the scoreboard reading 11-1.
Mahmudul then came to the crease and firstly added 90-run with another opener Tanzid Hasan who struck 64 ball-65 with eight fours and one six. After the dismissal of Tanzid, Mahmudul combined for 128-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy in an undefeated third wicket stand.
Towhid contributed 51 not out in the partnership, sending the ball across the rope for eight times. Mahmudul’s 103 off 95 was studded by 16 fours and one six. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Avishek Das and Hasan Murad scalped two wickets apiece for Bangladesh U19 team after captain Akbar Ali chose to bowl first.
Apart from Lellman, no one from New Zealand could stand tall in the face of some disciplined bowling from Bangladeshi bowlers.
The fourth and fifth match will be held on October 9 and 13.
Bangladesh will depart New Zealand on October 14.
