Young Tigers end campaign in sixth spot
Bangladesh youths suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of their South African counterparts in the fifth-place deciding playoff match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Queenstown today.
Bangladesh's decision to bat after winning the toss completely backfired as they lost their top half with just 33 runs on the board before two valiant half-centuries from Afif Hossain and wicketkeeper Shakil Hossain lifted them to a modest 178 all out in 41.4 overs.
The young Proteas raced to 180 for two in 38.3 overs to finish fifth in this edition's youth jamboree. The young Tigers, who had their best finish at home four years ago when they claimed the third spot, finished sixth this time.
Pace bowler Fraser Jones, who finished with a five-wicket haul, made most of the early damage by dismissing Mohammad Naim (2), Aminul Islam (7), Towhid Hridoy (1) and Mohammad Rakib (2).
All-rounder Afif, who scored a match-winning 71 against England in the first play-off at the same venue, struck a fluent 63 off 59 balls. The left-handed batsman, who bowls right-arm off-spin, struck seven fours and a couple of sixes before becoming the fifth victim of Fraser. Afif shared 97 runs for the sixth wicket with Shakil, who made 61 off 89 balls with the help of six boundaries.
Afif is certainly the best performer among the Bangladesh players in the championship. It was the fourth fifty in six games for the middle-order batsman. He also took eight wickets, including a five-for against Canada.
However, it was the only partnership of substance in an innings that folded with more than eight overs to spare.
R van Tonder scored a captain's knock of an unbeaten 82 to fashion the easy win. His Bangladesh counterpart Saif Hasan scored just one.
The defeat completed a campaign best described as a mixed bag for the Bangladesh youth in difficult New Zealand conditions. They won their first two group league games against Canada and Namibia comfortably before suffering a big defeat against England. They also lost their quarterfinal against India badly before salvaging some pride against their group-stage tormentors England, whom they beat by five wickets.
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