Nail-biter sees BD U-19s lose by 1 run
Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team suffered a second consecutive defeat against their Sri Lankan counterparts in the second match of the five-match Youth ODI series in Dambulla today.
Despite having been in a commanding position till the 41st over, the visitors fell short by a single run, in reply to a deceptively competitive total of 228 set by the young Lions.
Earlier, the Lankans won the toss and elected to bat first to pile up their score, riding on a couple of half-centuries from their top-order – the likes of Sadeesh Jayawardena and Pawan Pathiraja – and combined with a late flourish from Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who scored 27 off 17.
Ripon Mondol was the pick of the young Tigers' bowlers, scalping three wickets while Ariful Islam, with a wicket for 27 runs in 10 overs, remained the most economical.
In reply, Bangladesh openers – Mahfijul Islam and Iftikhar Hossain -- got off to an unbeaten 50-run stand and at one point the young Tigers were looking good at 181 for four in 40.5 overs, after which it all went south for the visitors.
The game eventually went down to the wire as Bangladesh needed two runs off four deliveries with only a wicket in hand, however, tail-ender Ripon got run-out in the next delivery to send the hosts in raptures.
Dunith Wellalage and Mathisa Pathirana picked up three wickets each for the Lankans. Mahfizul remained the only batter for Bangladesh to have scored a half-century, with his 75.
The third game of the series, a must-win for Bangladesh U-19 to keep the series alive, is scheduled to be played on October 20 at the same venue.
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