Bangladesh U19 registered a historical victory against New Zealand U19 to qualify to the final of the World Cup for the first time in their history. Akbar Ali and his men chased down the target of 212 comfortably by 6 wickets in hand and courtesy of a match-winning hundred from Mahmudul Hasan Joy.
The undefeated Bangladesh U19 side opted to bowl first after winning the toss and started off brilliantly by picking two quick wickets. Spinner Rakibul Hasan, the find of the tournament for Bangladesh impressed yet again as he bowled three maiden overs in a row including a wicket maiden.
The pressure kept building and New Zealand kept losing wickets in the middle overs. Shoriful Islam also turned into a big threat for the opposition along with Shamim Hossain and Hasan Murad. Beckham Wheeler was the only man for New Zealand, who looked in good touch with the bat and played till the very end for his unbeaten knock of 75* from 83. The knock guided the Kiwis to a fighting total of 211 runs in the end.
Shoriful was the pick of the bowler for Bangladesh in the end as he picked up 3 wickets and conceded only 45 runs in his 10-over quota.
In reply, Bangladesh lost the early wicket of Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain. But the young Tigers recovered the early damage well with the help of man in form Tawhid Hridoy and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. They built a solid partnership to take the game away from the Kiwis.
However, Adithya Ashok brought the important breakthrough by removing Tawhid for 40. But it couldn’t do much damage as Shahadat Hossain played even a better knock and supported the centurion Joy exceptionally well.
Joy departed after completing his hundred and it was then the skipper Akbar Ali, who finished things off in the 44th over with a boundary and the young Tigers jumped in joy as they are set to play a World Cup final for the first time in their history.
Bangladesh U19 will face the defending champions India U19 in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Re-live the special moment when Bangladesh qualified for their first ever #U19CWC final ? #NZvBAN | #FutureStars pic.twitter.com/9djn09Q2Nm
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 6, 2020
Those moves ???#U19CWC | #NZvBAN | #FutureStars pic.twitter.com/odtDlftTQS
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 6, 2020
