Bangladesh U-19 cricket team started their tour of New Zealand losing their first of two unofficial practice matches by six wickets against Otago A side in Dunedin Wednesday. The young Bangladesh cricketers are now in New Zealand for the 2018 U-19 World Cup, set to start from January 13.
Otago A are the second string side of Otago, a first-class team in New Zealand.
Winning the toss, Bangladesh batted first but failed to put up a competitive score, losing all of their wickets for 170 runs in 40.2 overs. Otago’s right-arm medium pacer Christi Viljoen removed five Bangladesh batsmen, including the two openers Pinak Ghosh and Naim Sheikh for 14 and two respectively. The Bangladesh innings was based on captain Saif Hasan’s 69-ball 54 and another 40 from middle-order batsman Afif Hossain.
Chasing the target, Otago A reached the shore in 36.5 overs losing four wickets. The side got a smooth start as openers GW Croudis and Hamish Rutherford posted 73 and 44 to the board respectively. HJ Visavadiya added unbeaten 30 to take his side to victory.
Bangladesh off-spinner Robiul Haque picked up three wickets to lead the attack.
Bangladesh will play their second practice game Friday. The junior Tigers flew to New Zealand last month two weeks early in order to acclimatise with the condition ahead of the U-19 World Cup.
Brief ScoreOtago A 171/4 in 36.5 overs (Croudis 73, Rutherford 44) beat
Bangladesh U-19 170 in 40.2 overs (Saif 54, Afif 40)
by six wickets
