ZCZC
BSP-19
CRICKET-BD-SA-U-19
Bangladesh takes on South Africa to seal U-19 WC semifinal
DHAKA, Jan 29, 2020 (BSS)- Bangladesh Under-19 team vows to come all guns
blazing as they take on South Africa in the Super League Quarterfinal-3 of
the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at the Potchefstroom in South Africa
tomorrow (Thursday).
The victory in the match would help them seal the semifinal of the
tournament.
The Junior Tigers’ highest success in the Youth World Cup is to achieve
the third place in 2016 tournament beating West Indies by three wickets when
Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the side in the tournament, hosted by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh came in South Africa with an aim to surpass the previous result
and thing went well until the last game against Pakistan.
The Bangladeshi youth beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets through D/L method
before crushing Scotland by seven wickets.
But they were reduced to 106-9 against Pakistan in the last group match.
Only the rain saved them from ultimate blushes as the match was washed out,
helping Bangladesh to be the group champion by virtue of net-run-rate.
“We played badly against Pakistan and our batting was not up to the mark.
We played some wretched shots,” Bangladesh U-19 captain Akbar Ali said in
Potchefstroom ahead of the crucial game.
“But we would try to reduce the number of mistakes when we take on South
Africa. We have given full concentration on batting. We have the plan to come
up with tight bowling in the first and last power-play. Our target is to
maintain our line and length,” he added.
Even though South Africa lost their group phase game to Afghanistan before
beating the UAE and Canada to seal the super league quarterfinal, Akbar
thinks that the match won’t be easier for them.
“I think the chance is 50-50 because they have got a decent side. We have
to play well in all three departments if we want to beat them.”
Bangladesh also has some injury concern with fast bowler Mrittunjoy
Chowdhury ruling out from the tournament while off-spinner Shamim Hasan still
struggling to recover from the injury.
“We have no control on the injury. We are not getting Mrittunjoy but we
hope Shamim will recover well before the game. Whatever the team is, we have
to battle hard to win the game,” Akbar concluded.
BSS/SMP/SSS/1701 hrs