ICC U19 CWC 2020
Bangladesh beat hosts SA to storm into semis
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Bangladesh thrashed hosts South Africa by a huge margin of 104 runs yesterday to book semi-final berth in the ongoing ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2020 thanks to spinner Rakibul Hasans five-for and batsman Tanzid Hasans 80. This is for the second time Bangladesh romped to semi-final of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup after the year 2016.
The hosts were caught napping by spin again in the quarter-final, as left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan took a five-wicket haul to knock the hosts out of the 2020 U-19 World Cup. Bangladesh will now face New Zealand in the semi-final on February 6 in Potchefstroom. Before Rakibul took 5 for 19 in 9.3 overs, it was opener Tanzid Hasans 84-ball 80 and No. 5 batsman Shahadat Hossains 76-ball 74 that set South Africa a challenging target of 262. Towhid Hridoy also chipped in with 51.
South Africas No. 4 Luke Beaufort, who made 60 and was the ninth wicket to fall, was the only half-centurion for the hosts. He looked to take the game as deep as possible but found little support from the other end. Opener Jonathan Birds 35 was the second-highest score from South Africa.
It was Birds dismissal, the second South Africa wicket, which got Rakibul on the wickets column in the 14th over. After that, he bowled the captain Bryce Parsons for 7. In his second spell, Rakibul had Pheko Moletsane stumped in the 35th over, trapped Tiaan van Vuuren lbw four overs later and finally dismissed Beaufort in the 43rd over to end South Africas hopes. Rakibuls five wickets were claimed at an economy of only 2.00.
After their win, the Bangladesh players walked around the ground thanking their supporters who had come from nearby cities to watch the game. Chants of Bangladesh, Bangladesh resonated through certain sections of the ground after the final wicket - a run-out - closed South Africas innings out for 157.
The day had begun with a measured 60-run opening stand between opener Tanzid and Parvez Hossain Emon. Emons dismissal for 17 was soon followed by No. 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joys and they were 73 for 2 after 16.4 overs. However, a 57-run partnership between Tanzid and Hridoy brought Bangladesh back on track. In that partnership, they found the boundaries often, with Tanzid being the aggressor. Then came the 102-run stand between Hridoy and Shahadat that kept South Africas bowlers quiet in the middle overs, and a combined late charge from their captain Akbar Ali - who made an 11-ball 16 - and Shahadat helped them finish on 261 for 5.
Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Rakibul Hasan was adjudged man-of-the-match for his match-winning five-for.
