Bangladesh U19 crushed South Africa U19 by 104 runs in the second youth ODI at Willowmoore Park on July 20. After posting 265/6 in their innings, the Bangladeshis skittled out the Baby Proteas for 161 to win the three-match series with a match to spare.
Batting first, Bangladesh openers Zawad Abrar and Rifat Beg put on 53 in the first powerplay, with Abrar contributing 37 off 30 and Beg assisting with 16 off 30. But Ntando Soni broke the partnership when he had Beg (18 off 39) caught at backward point by Paul James in the 12th over. The right-hander flicked Soni’s bouncer over point, but the ball lacked height and power and landed comfortably to James at backward point.
South Africa introduced Enathi Kitshini to the attack and the left-arm off-spinner made an immediate impact, conceding only four runs in his first three overs. He was assisted by seamer Cornè Botha as South Africa put the lid on the scoring in the middle overs.
After their blazing start in the first 10 overs, Bangladesh only scored 14 runs from overs 11 to 16 and also lost Abrar to Botha in the 17th over. With few scoring options available, Abrar hooked a Botha delivery to fine leg, but JJ Basson was on guard to cup the ball before landing on his back as his teammates rushed over to celebrate.
The hosts had the upper hand at that point, but keeper Kamo Phiri dropped Rizan Hossan and Azizal Hakim Tammim and that shifted the momentum as South Africa struggled to break the duo’s 100-run third-wicket stand.
After being dropped at long-on by Adnaan Lagadien in the 29th over, Tammim (67 off 90) was caught by the same fielder at mid-off, off Botha in the 40th over, and MD Abdullah followed him to the shed two overs later off James after adding 10 runs to the scoreboard.
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James then had Hossan caught behind by Phiri four overs later before Botha produced the moment of the match with a stunning diving catch to dismiss Samiun Ratul. After adding a quick-fire 25 off 20, Ratul hit JJ Basson down the ground. Botha ran from long-off before diving to his left, comfortably cupping the ball to send the venue into a frenzy as the Bangladeshis were restricted to 265/6.
Botha and James took two wickets each, while Soni and Basson chipped in with one scalp apiece.
In response, the hosts lost Lagadien (5), Muhammed Bulbulia (2) and Amaan Khan (5) to Al Fahad and Iqbal Hossain Emon for 14 runs. Captain Jason Rowles and Vihan Pretorius steadied the ship with 37 for the fourth wicket, but Pretorius was stumped by Farid Hasan off Hakim in the 10th over.
Phiri joined Rowles at the crease and the duo anchored South Africa to 100 before Hakim had Rowles (51 off 48) caught behind by Hasan, and Phiri (20 off 27) followed his skipper to the shed nine balls later off Sanjid Mozumder.
James (1) was dismissed by Basir and Botha (26) and Kitshini (17) added 36 for the eighth wicket before both fell to Shadhin Islam, and Basson was run out by Abdullah as the visitors restricted their hosts to 161 inside 31 overs.
The last match is tomorrow at Willowmoore Park at 09:30.
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