ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh 2004
Scotland blown away
Sports Reporter
Hosts Bangladesh disposed off Scotland with clinical efficiency in their second Group C match of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup yesterday to set up a mouthwatering last game against high-flying India on February 20.Needing to win and win big to keep hopes of a Super League berth alive, the charges of Richard McInnes charmed the full house at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium. First they bundled out the Scots for 95 with a mixture of quality pace and spin and then raced to the target in just 12.2 overs with nine wickets intact. It was all over in three and a half hours and the fast pace of the chase was also similar to the run rate achieved by India during their 270-run drubbing of Scotland on Monday. Because of the loss against New Zealand in the first fixture, Bangladesh now must beat India in the final group game if they wish to qualify for the next phase. Bangladesh skipper Ashiqur Rahman won the toss and had no hesitation to put the opponents in. The stage was set for hometown boy Shahadat Hossain to spit fire on a wicket that had nothing for the quick bowlers. The 18-year-old again demonstrated his raw pace and shook the Scots up with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. Coming at first change after opening bowlers Rubayat Haq and Nazmul Hossain had sent back the first three batsmen, Shahadat claimed three more in a sharp eight-over spell giving away 27 runs. His effect was infectious as the crowd roared him on every time he started his long run up. Only Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer rescued his team from complete embarrassment. Coet-zer's who was also his team's main scorer against India with 65, hit a fluent 42 (63 balls, 6 fours) -- the only double-figure score in their innings with 22 extras proving the next best. It was Test spinner and man-of the-match Enamul Haque who ended Coetzer's resistance by going through his defences. Left-armer Enamul then ran through the tail to finish with four for 21 as Scotland were all-out in 30.2 overs. Bangladesh lost opener Nazimuddin in the first over for a duck but Naeem Islam joined Nafees Iqbal to launch a brilliant attack on the minnows. Naeem hit a rapid 49 not out off 38 balls with nine hits to the fence while Nafees also entertained the local crowd by clubbing six boundaries in his unbeaten 35-ball 39. Coach McInnes was guarded in his reaction to the emphatic victory. "The pacers conceded too many extras which I wouldn't like to see in the last match. Indian batting is very strong and that's why we should bowl much better against them," said McInnes. The Australia however said that his boys could be a match for any team if they play at their full potential.
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