Bangladesh U-23 cricket team were off to a winning start in the 13th edition of the South Asian Games after a resounding 109-run victory over hapless Maldives at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Nepal Wednesday.
Batting first, the junior Tigers posted 174 losing four wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, left-handed batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto top-scoring with 49 off 38 balls.
He was ably supported by captain Soumya Sarkar (46 off 33) and opening batsman Mohammad Naim (38 off 28).
In pursuit of a challenging 175, Maldives never really got going as only two of their batters reached double figure.
@BCBtigers women’s cricket team made it two wins out of two after they thumped Nepal by 10 wickets in the 13th edition of the South Asian Games in Pokhara, Nepal Wednesdayhttps://t.co/MgkFTaa6Sq#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #NEPALCRICKET #NEPAL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 4, 2019
In the end, they were eventually dismissed for 65 in 19.2 overs, left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam causing the most damage with five wickets.
Off-spinner Afif Hossain and leg-spinner Minhajul Abedin Afridi bagged two wickets apiece.
Bangladesh U-23 will now face Bhutan at the same venue Friday before locking horns with Nepal and Sri Lanka U-23 Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The top two teams from the five-nation round robin league will contest the gold-medal match, while the third and fourth placed sides will play the third-place playoff.
BRIEF SCORE
MALDIVES 65 in 19.2 overs (Tanvir 5/19, Afif 2/7) lost to BANGLADESH U-23 174/4 (Shanto 49, Soumya 46) by 109 runs
