Dhaka Feb 5 (UNB) – Two fifties by Zakir Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz helped Bangladesh to make the first-ever semifinal berth in any format of the ICC global cricket beating Nepal by 6 wickets in the first quarterfinal of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday. This is the sweet revenge for young Tigers’ of their 23-run defeat against Nepal in the plate semifinal of the Under-19 World Cup in 2002. The previous best achievement of Bangladesh was the 5th place in the Under-19 World Cup in 2006, Sri Lanka. Chasing a target of 212 runs, Bangladesh reached the destination scoring 215 for 4 in 48.2 overs spurred by the unbeaten 5th wicket stand of 117 runs in 20.1 overs between Zakir and skipper Miraz. Zakir hammered an over boundary in the innings last delivery off Dipendra Singh Airee to draw the winning line. Zakir topscored 75 off 77 balls including five boundaries and one six. Miraz who was adjudged man of the match hit 55 off 65 balls including three boundaries. Opening bat, Bangladesh faced early jolt losing Saif Hassan at 17/1 in 6.3 overs. Opener Pinak Ghosh and Joyraz Sheik tried to repair the early damage in the 2nd wicket, but a second-run dilemma in 19.2 overs sent back Pinak to dressing room. Both batsmen were stranded at one end with Pinak’s bat just short of the crease at the striker’s end when the wicket was broken at the non-striker’s end, was a Sushil Kandel delivery to Joyraz. The 2nd pair contributed 46 runs in 12.5 overs to carry the team total to at 63/2 in 19.2 overs from 17/1 in 6.3 overs. Pinak was run out scoring 32 off 54 including two boundaries while Nazmul Hossain Shanto followed Pinak soon, at 75/3 in 22.1 overs, as he was caught and bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane. Bangladesh touched the 100-run mark for 4 in 29 overs with Zakir’s single run. Delivering 10 overs each, Sunil Dhamala grabbed two wickets for 33 runs and Sandeep Lamichhane took one wicket for 46 runs. Batting first after winning the toss, ICC associate nation Nepal scored a decent 211 for 9 in 50 overs with skipper Raju Rijal’s knocked of 72 off 80 balls including eight boundaries and one six. Rijal was run out by Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan combination at 146/5 in 33.5 overs. Pace bowler Mohammad Saifuddin made the first breakthrough in the Nepalese batting castle bowling out Sandeep Sunar at 17/1 in 5.1 overs. Soon after, another pacer Mehedi Hasan Rana jolted the Nepalese again dismissing number-3 batsman Yogendra Singh Karki, who was caught by Saif Hassan, at 19/2 in 6.1 overs. Nepal stayed back after early wickets with their skipper Raju Rijal displaying patient cricket. In the 3rd wicket, Rijal and opener Sunil Dhamala managed a partnership score of 44-run in 12 overs before Dhamala was run out at 63/3 in 18.1 overs. After Dhamala, Raju continued with Aarif Sheikh for 51 runs in 9.3 overs in the 4th that pulled local crowed support. Dhamala stayed for 25 off 62 balls, including two boundaries, while number-9 batsman Prem Tamang added unbeaten 22 off 24 balls with two boundaries at the end. Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel scored 22, 21 and 14 runs respectively. Delivering 10 overs each, Mohammad Saifuddin bagged two wickets for 38 runs while Mehedi Hasan Rana, Saleh Ahmed Shawon and Mehedi Hasan Miraz took one wicket apiece for 30, 31 and 51 runs. Brief Score: Nepal: 211/9 in 50 overs; Raju Rijal 72, Sunil Dhamala 25, Prem Tamang 22, DS Airee 22, Aarif Sheikh 21, Kushal Bhurtel 14, Saifuddin 2/38. Bangladesh: 215/4 in 48.2 overs; Zakir Hasan not out 75, Mehedi Hasan Miraz not out 55, Joyraz Sheik 38, Pinak Ghosh 32, Sunil Dhamala 2/33.
