Bangladesh start strong

Young Tigers take a selfie after their victory against Australia.

Bangladesh made a good start in the Hong Kong International Sixers six-a-side tournament by defeating Australia and Sri Lanka to stand in second position of the group-B points table, at the Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong yesterday.

However in the day's other group match, all of which were five overs a side, Saif Hassan and his troops succumbed to a three-wicket loss to the New Zealand Kiwis after posting 82 runs for 1 wicket.

In the first game Bangladesh posted 93 for 4 against Sri Lanka as skipper Saif blasted 52 runs off just 15 balls with five sixes and the same number of boundaries. In reply, Sri Lanka managed to score 86 runs for 3 wickets, which were taken one apiece by Saif, Afif Hossain and Monirul Islam.

In the Australia encounter, which in order to reach the cup stage was a must win game, Afif displayed an all-round performance to help clinch the six run win. Bangladesh posted 88 for 2 riding on Afif's 11 ball 34 run knock and, after scoring the team highest, the left-hander retired.

Australia required 14 runs from the last over to steal the win but Afif bowled in tight lengths and gave the Aussie batters no quarter as his side eventually pulled off the victory. Australian national cricketer and skipper John Hastings was the highest scorer for the team from down under with 32.