There are certainly no baby steps even in the world of Under-19 cricket. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh kicked off a new cycle in this age-group with a high-scoring draw.
All 22 players who played this match made Youth Test debuts. There were three centuries, a seven-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul.
Minod Bhanuka took Sri Lanka from 4 for 193 in the middle session of the first day, to a solid score of 422 on the second. He made an attacking 114 with 12 boundaries and four sixes. Earlier, Sandun Weerakkody scored 59. Bangladesh’s legspinner Jubair Hossain took five wickets, including those of Bhanuka and Weerakkody.
The home side fell 25 runs short in their first-innings response, though there were centuries from Mehedy Hasan and captain Mosaddek Hossain. The pair put on 166 runs for the fourth wicket before Mehedy fell for 105. Mosaddek batted longer, taking more than five hours to score 107 runs. AK Tyronne took seven wickets for 142 runs in his marathon bowling spell of 46.2 overs.
Jubair added a further three wickets in the Sri Lanka second innings as they attempted to bat the home side out of the game. They declared on 207 for 8, setting Bangladesh an improbable 233 runs to win in the final session. Tyronne took two further wickets, as they made 71 for three before play ended.
The second and final four-day game begins in Sylhet from April 16. They also play two one-day matches in the eastern city.
