BSS, Dhaka “
Bangladesh under-23 team got off to a winning start in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2017 with an overwhelming eight-wicket victory over Hong Kong held on Monday at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium, Cox’s Bazar.
The Bangladesh bowlers threatened early inroad on Hong Kong innings as
Abul Hasan Raju sent back Anshuman Rath for 7 and Chris Carter for 15, after they opted to bat first.
Hong Kong, however, fought back with their third wicket stand of 49 between Nizakat Khan and Babar Hayat before Rahatul Ferdous Javed dismissed Nizakat for 27.
Allrounder Nasir Hossain brought Bangladesh in match again when he took the wicket of Waqas Khan for 4.
After that Mominul Haque sent back Hong Kong’s top-scorer Babar Hayat for 37 to leave the tourists tottering at 98 for 5. To add salt to the wound Nasir struck again to dismiss Shahid Wasif for 2.
Mominul gave Bangladesh two breakthroughs in the 31st over as Waqas Barkat and Jhatha Subraymanyan were sent back to the pavilion.
In the next over, Nasir got his third wicket of the match when he sent back Ehsan Nawaz for duck. Ehsan Khan was the last man to be dismissed by Javed on 17 and Hong Kong were bowled out for 125.
Mominul and Nasir Hossain shared three wickets each conceding 11 and 18 runs respectively.
In reply, Bangladesh hardly had to sweat as they comfortably reached home in 16.1 overs for the loss of two wickets. Openers Saif Hassan and Azmir
Ahmed gave Bangladesh a good start as they contributed 46 runs for the opening stand.
Waqas Khan dismissed Azmir for 15 while skipper Mominul Haque made a quick-fire 21 from 14 before being dismissed by Ehsan Khan.
The unbeaten 3rd wicket stand of 41 between Saif and Nazmul Hossain Shanto ensured Bangladesh victory without any more hiccups along the way.
Saif’s unbeaten knock of 57 and Nazmul’s 24 ensured their team romped to
victory by eight wickets in the lop-sided match.
Bangladesh will play their next match against Nepal scheduled to be held today (Tuesday) at the same venue.
Brief score
Hong Kong: 125 all out in 35.1 overs (Babar Hayat 37, Nizakat 27, Mominul 3-11)
Bangladesh: 126 for 2 in 16.1 overs (Saif 57*, Nazmul 24*, Waqas 1-10)
Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets..
