Bangladesh Under-19 team began their preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a crushing eight-wicket win in the opening match of the three-match series against West Indies at Mirpur on Monday.
The visitors were crumbled to just 114 runs off 39.2 overs before the hosts made 116-2 from 20.2 overs to boost their confidence ahead of the global event, scheduled from January 27th in Bangladesh.
Before the start of the series it was expected that the local spinners would be the key and left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed lived up to the expectations picking up 4-24 to break the backbone of the West Indies’ innings.
Off-spinners Saeed Sarkar and Sanjit Saha gave him good support as they picked up 2-9 and 2-14 respectively.
Gidron Pope scored 31 and Emmanuel Stuart made 30 for the visitors.
In reply, Bangladesh lost opener Pinak Ghosh for just three and Joyraj Sheikh for 18 but opener Saif Hasan scored an unbeaten 39 off 68 balls and shared 68 runs in an unbroken third wicket partnership with Nazmul Hossain, who scored 41 off just 36 balls with six fours and a six.
Saleh, who was adjudged as the man-of-the-match, said the pitch was flat but the hosts’ spinners bowled well and gained the confidence that he believes will help them immensely in the forthcoming World Cup.
‘It was a good performance. It will help us in the World Cup. By the grace of Allah, we will do great in that tournament,’ said Saleh.
The second game of the series will take place in Chittagong on Thursday.
-With New Age input
