U-19s fall to first loss in NZ

Bangladesh Under-19s, who clinched the five-match one-day series by winning the first three matches of a five-match series, tasted their first loss on tour when hosts New Zealand Under-19 won the fourth youth ODI by four wickets at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln yesterday.

Despite Bangladesh posting a competitive 295 for eight after being asked to bat, New Zealand were able to chase down the target in 49.1 overs with four wickets in hand.

Opener Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain gave the young Tigers a decent start as they stitched together a 71-run stand before the former was dismissed in the 12th over for a 44-ball 51. Bangladesh then lost a few quick wickets in the middle overs, but a 104-run fifth-wicket stand between Towhid Hridoy (73 off 77) and skipper Akbar Ali (66 off 44) helped the hosts wrest the momentum back and post a total that would have allowed thoughts of a fourth straight win.

After the exchange however, Fergus Lellman's 71-ball 76 and an unbeaten 77-ball 66 from skipper Jesse Tashkoff helped New Zealand register their first victory in the series with five balls to spare.