Young Tigers seal big win

A dominating all-round performance by Bangladesh U-19 men's team saw them clinch a massive 130-run win over hosts South Africa in the opening game of their three-match one-day series at Willowmoore Park in Benoni today.

Riding on fifties from Zawad Abrar (70 off 61 balls), Rizan Hossan (63 off 55 balls), and Md Abdullah (63 off 76 balls), the young Tigers posted a decent total of 285 for six in their stipulated 50 overs after being sent into bat first.

For South Africa, left-arm pacer JJ Basson took 4-47 while Vihan Pretorius and Bandile Mbatha claimed one wicket each. Bangladesh could have posted a bigger total as they reached 228-4 in the 41st over, but the hosts fought back strongly in the death overs to restrict Bangladesh below the 300-run mark.

Bangladesh pacer Iqbal Hossain Emon then struck in the second over as he removed opener Jorich Van Schalkwyk for nought, and the hosts never got momentum in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals.

The only South Africa batter who posed a resistance was their skipper and opener, Muhammed Bulbulia, scoring 72 off 79 balls. He was the last batter to depart, falling prey to leg-spinner Shadhin Islam, as South Africa were bundled out for 155 runs in 32.1 overs. Both Emon and Shadhin took three wickets each for the visitors.

The second and third matches of the series will be held at the same venue on July 19 and 22, respectively.