Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team are all but through to the ACC U-19 Asia Cup semi-finals after outclassing Japan by nine wickets in Monday’s Group B clash in Dubai.
Upon bowling first, the young Tigers shared the wickets among the seven bowlers with captain Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby (2/9) and Ariful Islam (2/15) leading the way as Japan were all out for a paltry 99 in 47.1 overs, before chasing down the small target with 232 balls remaining.
Opener Nihar Parmar top-scored for Japan with a painstaking 80-ball 18 while only two others scored in double digit.
In reply, the youngsters in red and green coasted to their target in 11.2 overs with opening batter Ashiqur Rahman Shibli scoring the highest, an unbeaten 45-ball 55, featuring eight fours.
Bangladesh lead the pool with two wins after opening their campaign with a 61-run win over the United Arab Emirates last Saturday while Sri Lanka and the hosts have one victory each with winless Japan at the bottom.
With a tournament high net run rate of 2.688, the young Tigers have one foot in the semis irrespective of what happens in their last group stage match against the Lankans Wednesday.
Pakistan top Pool A with two victories, while India and Afghanistan have a win apiece with pointless Nepal at the foot of the standing.
In the last four, the Group B winners will take on the Pool A runners-up while the Group B runners-up will face the Pool A winners.
BRIEF SCORE
Japan U-19 99 in 47.1 overs (Rabby 2/9, Ariful 2/15) lost to Bangladesh U-19 100/1 in 11.2 overs (Shibli 55*, Jishan 29) by 9 wickets