Joy for Bangladesh as they reach first ever u.19 Cricket World Cup final

Joy's brilliant match winning century 100 (127) was the catalyst in a superb run chase of 211/8. Bangladesh (215/4) managed to pass the target with 6 wickets in hand and 35 balls to spare.

February 7, 2020

Wouter Pienaar 1 minute read

Mahmudul Hasan Joy sweeps on his way to a match winning 100 (127). Photo: Wouter Pienaar.

It was quite appropriate that the man named Mahmudul Hasan Joy put smiles on Bangladeshi faces in their crucial u.19 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand yesterday at the JB Marks Oval.

Joy’s brilliant match winning century 100 (127) was the catalyst in a superb run chase of 211/8. Bangladesh (215/4) managed to pass the target with 6 wickets in hand and 35 balls to spare.

Bangladeshi fans were in full voice for the duration of the match.

Towhid Hridoy and Shahadat Hossain also assisted in the run chase with both scoring handy 40’s. Bangladesh’s captain, Akbar Ali, could then stroll onto the field and knock off the winning runs to send his teammates and the pro-Bangladesh crowd into a frenzy.

Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh bowlers kept it tight with Shoriful Islam (3/45) and Hasan Murad (2/45) being the standout bowlers as they opted to bowl first. New Zealand middle order batsman, Beckham Wheeler-Greenall was the lone wolf with an undefeated 75 (83) as he kept the u.19 Black Caps in the game.

In the end, the total was just not enough as the Young Tigers showed composure and grit to carve their way to an historic win and meeting with India in the final on Sunday, 9 February at the JB Marks Oval.

The final starts at 10:00 and entry is free for the public.

Photos: Wouter Pienaar