Plate Final Today
Hosts face Aussies
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh will desperately try to wind up their ICC U-19 World Cup campaign with something to savour when they take on Australia in the Plate final at the Fatullah Stadium today. The battle of the unlikely finalists will commence at 9:00am in front of a capacity crowd. While Bangladesh will use the opportunity to celebrate a rare international title, Australia will be playing for pride after being knocked out of the Cup competition. But if Richard McInnes' boys are to upset the formbook then they will have to bat better than they have ever done in the competition. "Our frontline batsmen will have to bat exceedingly well if we are going to throw a serious challenge to the Australians," said McInnes after the final practice session at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday. The Australian coach believed that if his team could post a total beyond 250 then the spinners would be able to defend it. "They (Australia) are weak against spin and that's why we will go with four spinners in the final. But before anything else we need to win the toss and grab the opportunities that come our way," said the Bangladesh youth coach whose boys have so far fared badly against two Test-playing teams they played in the first round. McInnes' Australian counterpart Bennett King admitted that his boys are still uncomfortable going on the front foot while facing the spinners. "We are yet to get used to the condition here and that's why the players are finding it difficult to face the spinners. But I hope they will come good in their final game," said King, who is also the head coach of the famed Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy.
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