Bangladesh U-19 cricket team made a flying start to their tour of New Zealand as they thumped their Kiwi counterparts by six wickets in the first of five youth ODIs Sunday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
Batting first, the young Kiwis were skittled out for only 176 in 48 overs in the face of some devastating bowling by the visiting side.
Left-arm seamers Shariful Islam and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury did the most damage, bagging three wickets each, while off-spinner Shamim Hossain picked up two.
Right-arm pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib and left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan notched one apiece.
Bangladesh U-19 bowlers not only took regular wickets but were also economical with Mrittunjoy (2.33) and Rakibul (2.5) going for less than three runs per over.
Sakib (4.1), Shamim (4.2) and Shariful (4.89) meanwhile, all went for less than five runs per over.
CRICKET! NZ U19s take on Bangladesh U19s today in Lincoln ? Rhys Mariu (NZ) has won the toss and NZ U19s will bat first ?? #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/2kHq0VO28E
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 28, 2019
In what was a disappointing performance with the bat, New Zealand’s wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Pomare top-scored with 40 off 59 balls while Ollie White made 30.
In reply, the junior Tigers were in a spot of bother when opener Parvez Hossain Emon departed for two.
But that was that as useful partnerships ensured Bangladesh were never really in grave danger.
The other opener Tanzid Hasan (28) and No 3 batsman Mahmudul Hasan Joy (28) then added 30 for the second wicket before the former departed.
Joy was joined by middle-order batsman Towhid Hridoy (26) and the third wicket pair put on 40.
Following the departures of Joy and Hridoy within the span of 18 runs, No 5 batsman Shahadat Hossain and captain Akbar Ali took it upon themselves to guide Bangladesh U-19 to their destination.
@BCBtigers U-19 cricket team began their tour of New Zealand with a thumping 146-run win (Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method) against Canterbury XI in the warm-up match Friday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.https://t.co/ZARC16Nifg#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #NZC #NZ
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 27, 2019
Shahadat was not out on 24 while Akbar was unbeaten on a fine 61-ball 65, featuring 11 fours as Bangladesh U-19 romped home in 38.4 overs.
The unbroken pair added 81 to give the tourist an impressive win against the young Kiwis on their home soil.
New Zealand’s Jesse Tashkoff and Ryan Jackson shared three wickets between them.
The youngsters in red and green earlier began their tour with a comprehensive 146-run win (Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method) in the warm-up match against Canterbury XI at the same venue Friday.
The remaining games will be held on October 2, 6, 9 and 13 respectively.
BRIEF SCORE
BANGLADESH U-19 180/4 in 38.4 overs (Akbar 65*, Tanzid 28) beat NEW ZEALAND U-19 176 in 48 overs (Mrittunjoy 3/21, Shariful 3/44) by six wickets
New Zealand XI
Rhys Mariu (C), Thomas Zohrab, Conor Ansell, Ollie White, Jesse Tashkoff, Fergus Lellman, Ben Pomare (WK), Adithya Ashok, Joey Field, Hayden Dickson and Ryan Jackson
Bangladesh XI
Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Towhid Hridoy, Shahadat Hossain, Akbar Ali (C & WK), Shamim Hossain, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Rakibul Hasan, Shoriful Islam and Tanzim Hasan Sakib