Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team smartly took a 1-0 lead in the seven-match ODI series as they notched an eight-wicket victory over the hosts South Africa Under-19 side in the first match at Kingsmead, Durban on Sunday.
It was a good relief for cricket crazy Bangladeshi fans after Bangladesh national team’s 52-run defeat against Proteas in the first T20I cricket on the home soil on Sunday.
Chasing a moderate target of 185 runs, Bangladesh Youth side reached the target losing two wickets in 44.4 overs, spurred by the opening stand of 135 runs in 31.3 overs by Pinak Ghosh and Joyraz Sheikh.
After the departure of opener Joyraz, Pinak Ghosh who was adjudged man of the match continued his composure pairing with Nazmul Hossain Shanto and scored the team highest 60 runs off 113 balls with five fours and one six, before he was caught by Kyle Verreynne off a Dean Foxcroft delivery.
Joyraz managed 50 runs off 93 balls with six fours before he was caught by Wiaan Mulder off Dyyaan Galiem.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto and skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz played unbeaten 28 runs in 7.4 overs to guide the team towards victory.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored not out 23 runs off 47 balls with one four while skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz added not out 15 off 19 balls with two fours.
Dean Foxcroft and Dyyaan Galiem took one wicket each for 31 and 43 runs respectively.
Earlier, in the day’s match, sent in to bat first, South Africa scored 184 runs for 9 wickets in 50 overs, riding on Wiaan Mulder’s 62 runs off 102 balls with four fours and one six before he was caught by Joyraz Sheikh off a Abdul Halim bowling.
Rivaldo Moonsamy (27 off 49b, 3X4), Aaqil Ebrahim (19 off 32, 1X4, 1X6), Dean Foxcroft (16 off 27, 3X4) and Sean Whitehead (15 off 14, 2X4) were the other notable contributors for the side.
Abdul Halim grabbed 3 wickets for 22 runs in 7 overs while skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz captured 2 wickets for 27 runs in 8 overs. Mosaddek Hosain, Saleh Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Rana took 1 wicket each conceding 27, 34 and 36 runs respectively.
Lutho Sipamla and Liam Smith made their Under-19 debutant in the match.
