Ariful's second ton in vain as Young Tigers finish eighth
Ariful Islam's second consecutive hundred went in vain as defending champions Bangladesh lost by two wickets against South Africa to finish eighth in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 294 runs, South Africa's top-order batter Dewald Brevis scored a match-winning century which eventually helped the Proteas reach the target with seven balls to spare and two wickets in hand.
Brevis stood firm from one end, adding 86 runs for the second wicket with opener Ronan Hermann before the latter departed for 46 off 42 balls.
Bangladesh made a good comeback and kept picking wickets at regular intervals but Brevis went on and added another 74 runs in the sixth-wicket stand with Matthew Boast, who scored a crucial 41 off 22 balls striking four sixes and two fours.
Although Brevis was dismissed after a 130-ball 138 which included seven fours and eleven sixes to become Ripon Mondol's second victim, South Africa eventually sealed the win to hand Bangladesh a disappointing end to the World Cup campaign.
Earlier, Ariful had taken the responsibility with the bat for Bangladesh after electing to bat. Courtesy of Ariful's 102 off 103 balls, the innings featuring three sixes and nine fours, Bangladesh posted 293 for 8 in 50 overs. Prantik Nawrose added 38 while Md Fahim and Meherob added 30s in the middle for Bangladesh.
After striking a hundred in the previous game against Pakistan, Ariful, with two hundreds, joins Anamul Haque with most centuries by a Bangladeshi in the ICC Under-19 World Cups.
Apart from Ariful's two hundreds, there was very little to take for the defending champions as batting was the biggest area of concern for Rakibul Hasan-led side.
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