Bangladesh U-23 men’s cricket team comfortable victory in their first match in the ongoing SA games as they thrashed Maldives by 109 runs at Nepal’s Kirtipur on Wednesday.
Elected to bat first, Bangladesh had a solid start after openers Mohammad Naim Sheikh and Soumya Sarkar added 57 runs in the opening stand. Naim went back to the pavilion after a 28-ball 38 while Soumya scored 46 off 33 with four fours and two sixes before departing in the 14th over of the innings.
One-down batsman Nazmul Hasan Shanto contributed with 49 off 38 balls before getting out in the final over as Bangladesh posted 174 after 20 overs. Afif Hossain Dhrubo hit a quick 16 off 9 balls.
Chasing 174 in 20 overs, Maldives were never in the game as the Bangladeshi bowlers kept putting the Maldives batsmen in pressure since the beginning of the innings. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam bagged five wickets conceding only 19 runs to leave Maldies five down for 45 runs in the chase.
Minhajul Abedin Afridi and Afif Hossain Dhrubo picked up two wickets each while Soumya grabbed one wicket. Bangladesh will take on Bhutan in their second match on 6th December.
