Bangladesh under 19s bounced back perfectly in the final three games to claim the five-match series when they outplayed the Sri Lanka under 19s by 14 runs in the 5th youth ODI at SSC grounds on Sunday.
Sri Lanka under 19s won the first two games without much trouble but the visitors rebounded craftily in the last three games to dismantle the hosts 3 games to 2. The final and decisive game started when Bangladesh skipper Mehedy Hassan once again won the toss and elected to bat first.
Left-arm spinner Duvindu Tillakarathne struck for the hosts as early as the 7th over to remove the dangerous Joyraz Sheik. The Lankan bowlers tucked down the Bangladesh top order as they were restricted to 86 for 3 with 23 overs done and dusted.
16-year old left-handed one drop batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto once again punished the Lankan bowlers with a classy knock of 92 in 118 balls with 8 fours. He was involved in a strong 82-run stand for the 4th wicket with Zakir Hasan (42) which lifted the visitors innings. Right-arm seam duo of Malinga Amarasinghe and Asitha Fernando shared six wickets amongst them to restrict the junior Banga tigers to only 212 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing a par score of 213, Lankan openers got off to a flying start with left-handed Salinda Ushan and Lasith Lakshan putting 82 runs for the first wicket. Lasith made 42 runs off 60 deliveries with four boundaries and a six while Salinda struck 53 off 89 balls and his innings consist of 3 fours.
After the downfall of the openers, the Lankan innings went down the hill disastrously as the Banga bowlers put brakes on the scoring rate of the hosts. Vice-captain Avishka Fernando and former captain Chamika Karunarathne chipped in with 24 and 25 respectively but they failed to get their team over the winning line as Sri Lanka under 19s were bowled out for a mere 198 with 7 balls remaining.
Leg-spinner Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi was the chief wrecker with 3 scalps while Mehedy Hasan and Sanjit Saha captured 2 wickets apiece for the visitors.
Player of the match – Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh Under-19s)
Player of the series – Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh Under-19s)
Both teams will now travel to the ancient city of Dambulla for the first unofficial Test match which will commence on 28th January.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh U19 – 212/9 in 50 overs: Nazmul Hossain Shanto 92, Zakir Hasan 42, Asitha Fernando 3/50, Malinga Amarasinghe 3/20.
Sri Lanka U19 – 198 all out in 48.5 overs: Lasith Lakshan 42, Salinda Ushan 53, Avishka Fernando 24, Chamika Karunarathne 25, Mohammad Saifuddin 2/31, Mehedy Hasan 2/28, Sanjith Saha 2/33, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi 3/48.
