South Africa Under-19s thrashed Sri Lanka Under-19s by four wickets yesterday; the result creates a bright chance for Bangladesh Under-19s to qualify for the Super League of the ICC U19 World Cup in Australia.
Anamul Haque’s side meet with lowly Namibia Under-19s in their last Group D match today at the Peter Burge Oval in Brisbane and a victory will take them to the Cup competition for the third time in the tournament’s history after 2006 and 2008.
South Africa, who achieved exactly what Bangladeshis desired by beating Sri Lanka, topped the group with three wins out of three to set up a quarter-final match with either Australia or England while Sri Lanka finished their group campaign with one victory against Namibia against whom they managed a massive 195-run success.
Bangladesh Under-19s, the three-time Plate champions, had earlier increased their chances of qualification by winning the opening match against Sri Lanka Under-19s by 25 runs but they suffered a heavy 133-run defeat to their South African counterparts in the second group match.
Against Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Under-19s put in an impressive batting performance riding on Anamul’s hundred but their batting was found wanting in chase of a mammoth target against South Africa. They will need to put up a better performance against Namibia to fulfil their first target of qualifying for the Cup competition.
Back to the South Africa-Sri Lanka match, South Africa’s bowlers, led by Corné Dry, put in a commanding performance to shoot Sri Lanka out for 150 and set up a comfortable win for their side. South Africa suffered a few jitters in their chase before overhauling the target in 33 overs for the loss of six wickets.
In the other matches, a dramatic collapse from Scotland meant they succumbed to a 10-run defeat to Afghanistan in Buderim and finished bottom of Group B with three losses in three games while Ireland gained some consolation following their early elimination from the tournament with a 14-run victory over Nepal in the group match at Endeavour Park in Townsville.
-With The Daily Star input
