Bangladesh U19 on top with impressive wins in tri-series

Dubai: The Bangladesh Under-19 team continued their dominant run in the Tri-Nation U-19 Series in Zimbabwe, notching up two consecutive wins to stay unbeaten and top the points table with four points.

Following a nail-biting one-wicket victory over South Africa last Saturday, the young Tigers raised their game further, securing a commanding 91-run win against hosts Zimbabwe.

Batting first, Bangladesh posted a competitive 274 for 8 on a tricky, two-paced surface. Openers Rifat Beg and Zawad Abrar gave the side a flying start, putting on 70 runs in just 61 balls. Rifat scored a quick 31 off 35 deliveries with six boundaries, while Zawad continued the momentum, crafting a brilliant 82 off 63 balls, featuring 12 fours and a six.

Zawad and skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim added 77 runs for the second wicket, with Tamim contributing a steady 34 from 49 balls. A brief middle-order wobble was stabilized by Md Abdullah and Debasish Deba, who added 40 crucial runs. Deba chipped in with 24 off 36 balls, while Abdullah anchored the innings with an unbeaten 56 off 64 deliveries.

In response, Zimbabwe started briskly, reaching 33 in just 29 balls before Al Fahad struck the first blow. A 63-run second-wicket partnership offered some resistance, but once Shadhin Islam dismissed the well-set Nathaniel Hlabangana on 98, Zimbabwe’s collapse was swift. They lost their last nine wickets for just 85 runs and were bowled out for 183.

Samiun Basir was the pick of the bowlers, returning exceptional figures of 3 for 14 in 8.2 overs.

Bangladesh next face South Africa on Thursday and Zimbabwe on Friday, followed by return fixtures on August 6 and 8. A strong showing this week could all but secure their spot in the final on August 10.