Amirul hits hattrick in debut defeat for Bangladesh

Bangladesh put on a great display in their debut match of the FIH Junior World Cup in a 5-3 defeat against former champions Australia at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Drag and flick specialist Amirul Islam produced a superb display of penalty corner conversion, scoring a hattrick and winning the player of the match award despite the defeat. 

Bangladesh, who have been pitted in Group F with heavyweights Australia, South Kore and France, got on the backfoot very early as Oliver Will opened the account for Australia in the very first minute of the match with a field goal. 

However, Amirul equalised for Bangladesh in the 14th minute off the first penalty corner.

Ian Grobbelaar put Australia ahead in the 18th minute, converting a penalty corner with neat precision.

Dylan Brick and Duncan Jackson then scored two goals for the Aussies in the 22nd and 23rd minutes with Brick's one come off a penalty corner.

Bangladesh earned three consecutive penalty corners in the 30th minute but failed to convert any of those chances, eventually trailing 4-1 at the end of the second quarter.

Amirul scored Bangladesh's second goal in the 43rd minute but Daykin Stanger restored Australia's three goal-lead with a field goal five minutes later. Amirul completed his hattrick with another drag in the 59th minute. 

Bangladesh will play their second match against South Korea, who were beaten 11-1 by France in their first match, on Sunday.