Bangladesh eliminate Pakistan from ACC U19 Asia Cup

DUBAI: Pakistan’s streak of dominant performances came to an end on Friday, in the semi-final of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U19 Asia Cup, as Bangladesh emphatically beat them.

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field first.

PAKISTAN’S INNINGS

Pakistan got off to a horrible start, losing both openers for ducks. Usman Khan was sent off in the very first over on a delivery from Maruf Mridha that he hit towards Samiun Basir who took the catch. Shahzaib Khan was sent off soon after in the third over. The 19-year-old who scored centirues against both India and the United Arab Emirates wasn’t his dominant self against Bangladesh. Mridha picked up his second wicket on a ball that eventually ended up in the hands of Farid Hasan.  

Mohammad Riaz Ullah and Pakistan skipper Saad Baig tried to steady the ship, but the captain was sent off in the 15th over while the team was still under 50 runs. Iqbal Hasan Emon picked up the wicket on a delivery that Baig hit towards Maruf Mridha for the catch. Only a couple overs later, Naveed Ahmed Khan was run out after only scoring two runs.

Riaz Ullah would be dismissed in the 25th over, giving Emon his second wicket, and Faysal his second catch. Two overs later Haroon Arshad was bowled by Al Fahad. Farhan Yousaf did his best to put some runs on the board, as he hit three sixes and one four on his way to scoring 32 runs, the highest for Pakistan. But he too would fall in the 34th over as Debasish Deba got a wicket on a delivery that was eventually caught by Emon.

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Pakistan’s final three wickets fell in quick succession. Umar Zaib was run out in the 36th over, while Abdul Subhan and Ali Raza were both dismissed in the 37th. Emon sent off the former with an lbw, and bowled the latter. The Bangladeshi fast bowler took an incredible four wickets in total.

Pakistan were all out for 116 and Bangladesh had all the momentum they could ever need heading into their innings.

BANGLADESH’S INNINGS

Bangladesh were brisk in their chase, reaching the target within 23 overs. But, Pakistan gave them a scare early on, dismissing both openers within eight overs. Kalam Siddiki Aleen was sent off for a duck in the seventh over on a delivery from Ali Raza that the Bangladeshi batter hit towards Farhan Yousaf who took the catch. Abdul Subhan would take a wicket in the very next over, dismissing Zawad Abrar, who was caught out by Usman Khan. Abrar made 17 runs off 25 deliveries, hitting four fours in the process.

Naveed would take one wicket too in the 17th over, dismissing Mohammad Shihab James, who made the second highest score for Bangladesh with 26 runs. James would be caught out by Shahzaib. That was the last wicket Pakistan would take, as Bangladesh soon reached the total and won the match,

It was Bangladesh skipper Azizul Hakim who led the team to victory. He brought up his half century in the 21st over, and ended the match with a score of 57 runs off 41 deliveries, hitting six fours and three sixes along the way. Hakim was the one to end the match, and he did it in style, hitting a four to bring Bangladesh to a score of 120 runs. 

Bangladesh won the match by seven wickets, with 167 balls remaining.

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