Bangladesh ace tense chase to secure third place

A knock of 53 from captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz and an unbeaten 31 from Jaker Ali helped Bangladesh Under-19s seal a tense chase of 215 against Sri Lanka Under-19s to secure a third-place finish at the Under-19 World Cup.

Having dismissed Sri Lanka for 214, Bangladesh were progressing steadily during the course of an 88-run third-wicket partnership between Miraz and Nazmul Hossain Shanto. Sri Lanka bowlers had tied down the big shots early in the chase - Bangladesh went 105 balls without a boundary between 8th and 25th over - but the low target meant that the batsmen could rely on singles and keep the equation in check.

Sri Lanka, however, began turning the match around in the 36th over when Miraz was run-out for a 66-ball 53, his fourth successive half-century in the tournament. Two overs later, they lost a well-set Nazmul for 40 in the same fashion. Shafiul Hayet and Mosabbek Hossain consumed 8.1 overs for a partnership of 28 for the sixth wicket and once they fell quickly, Bangladesh were left needing 15 runs off the last two overs.

With the score at 200 for 6, Jaker, who had retired earlier in the innings due to cramps, returned to the crease and hit a crucial four in the penultimate over, playing a lap-scoop off Asitha Fernando to ease some pressure. Bangladesh went into the final over needing four runs and sealed the win off the third ball, through another four from Jaker, this time over midwicket.

Earlier, Sri Lanka lost their way in the middle overs after a promising start and were held together by captain Charith Asalanka's 76. Openers Kamindu Mendis and Salindu Ushan, got starts in their 60-run stand, but Miraz dismissed the top three batsmen with his offspin to leave Sri Lanka in trouble at 70 for 3 in the 18th over.

That score turned to 131 for 5 before Asalanka rebuilt in the company of Wanidu Hasaranga; the pair adding 55 runs for the sixth wicket. Once the latter was dismissed however, another collapse ensued and it was only Asalanka's third fifty of the tournament that pushed the score to 214. Miraz had returns of 3 for 28 and won the Man-of-the-Match award for his all-round performance.