The Bangladesh Under-19s completed their preparation with a four-wicket defeat to South Africa Under-19s in an exciting warm-up match before the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup at the Kev Hackney Oval, Buderim yesterday. Chad Bowes led from the front with an unbeaten hundred to script South Africa’s victory, which will give them the psychological edge over group-mates Bangladesh in the tournament proper. In the thrilling encounter, Bowes hit a 145-ball 104 that contained six boundaries, driving South Africa’s successful chase of Bangladesh’s total of 213. Some of the credit though must go to number eight batsman Prenelan Subrayen who smashed a six in the last over to help them reach the target with a ball to spare. South Africa needed ten runs to win after the sixth wicket fell off the last ball of the penultimate over.
Al-Amin (2-42) and Noor Hussain (2-48) were the main wicket-takers for Bangladesh.
Fresh from a seven-wicket victory over Scotland in the first official warm-up match, Bangladesh Under-19s could only manage to score 213 before being bundled out after deciding to bat first. That total was reached thanks mainly to number seven batsman Al-Amin who scored 60 off 73 balls with five boundaries and a six to hold the innings together after his team enjoyed useful contributions from top-order batsmen Soumya Sarker (26), Liton Das (37) and Asif Ahmed (46).
Vincent Moore (2-5), Solo Nqweni (2-46) and Corne Dry (2-24) were the key wicket-takers.
Bangladesh — who have been placed in Group D along with Sri Lanka, South Africa and Namibia in the 16-team competition — will play their first group match against Sri Lanka on August 11, second match against South Africa on August 12 and the third against Namibia on August 16.
In the other warm-up matches, Sri Lanka Under-19s beat Ireland Under-19s by 50 runs, New Zealand Under-19s registered 19-run victory over Nepal Under-19s, Pakistan Under-19s thrashed PNG Under-19s by eight wickets, India Under-19s defeated Afghanistan Under-19s by 52 runs, Australia Under-19s defeated Scotland Under-19s by 71 runs, England Under-19s posted a massive 131-run victory over Zimbabwe Under-19s and West Indies Under-19s outplayed Namibia Under-19s by 146 runs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
BANGLADESH UNDER-19S: 213 all out in 49 overs (Al-Amin 60, Asif Ahmed 46, Liton Das 37, Noor Hossain 13; Solo Nqweni 2-46, Vincent Moore 2-5, Corne Dry 2-24)
SOUTH AFRICA UNDER-19S: 214-6 in 49.5 overs (Chad Bowes 104 not out, Murray Coetzee 38; Al-Amin 2-42, Noor Hossain 2-48)
Result: South Africa won by four wickets
-With The Daily Star input
