Bangladesh storm into semifinals
The Bangladesh Under-23 team came out on top of their must-win ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup group stage final against the Pakistan Under-23 team with a convincing 84-run victory, which secured their place in the semifinals, at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday.
After electing to bat, a 126-run fifth wicket stand between Yasir Ali and Mosaddek Hossain powered Bangladesh to 309 runs for five wickets. Mosaddek, who scored a century in the previous match against Hong Kong, continued his run-fest in the tournament as he authored an unbeaten 74-ball 85-run knock.
In chase of the mammoth total, Pakistan lost two of their top order batsmen within the first six overs. However, an 88-run third wicket partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Zeeshan Malik somewhat steadied the ship before Malik ultimately fell prey to Shoriful Islam in the 21st over.
It was all downhill for the hosts after that as Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals before eventually being bundled out on 225 runs in 46.5 overs.
Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, scalping three wickets for 36 runs in his 10-over spell.
Bangladesh will next face the champions of Group A in the first semifinal on December 13 at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground in Sri Lanka.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH U-23s: 309 for 5 in 50 overs (Mosaddek 85 not out, Zakir 69, Yasir 56; Khushdil 3-48, Musa 2-55)
PAKISTAN U-23s: 225 all out in 46.5 overs (Khushdil 61, Zeeshan 47, Rizwan 46; Nayeem 3-36, Shafiul 2-41, Mosaddek 2-32)
Result: Bangladesh U-23 won by 84 runs.
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