Pakistan overcome Sakib’s century to beat young Tigers

BSS, Dhaka :
Despite a stubborn century of captain Sharear Sakib, Bangladesh Under-19 team failed to resist a 10-wicket defeat to visiting Pakistan Under-19 team in the only youth Test at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) on Wednesday.

Bangladesh youths’ mediocre batting performance in the first innings indeed made the eventual difference.

Put into bat first, the young Tigers were bowled out for paltry 149 with Parvez Rahman Jibon making the highest 56. Sakib contributed 49 runs in the first innings. Wasi Siddique was the only other batter to reach double digit mark with 18 not out.

Amir Hasan claimed 4-29 to rip through Bangladesh batting line up while Muhammad Ismail played a second fiddle to him with 3-41.

Opener Shahzaib Khan led the charge with 174 as Pakistan U19 piled up 420 before being all out in their first innings. Obaid Shahid made 67 while Ali Asfand added 40 as Pakistan took a mammoth 271-run lead.

Wasi Siddique snared 5-86 for Bangladesh while Iqbal Hossain Emon took 4-81.

Thanks to Sakib’s 106 and opener Ashiqur Rahman Shibli’s 79, Bangladesh U19 put up 292 in their second innings but that only avoided the innings defeat.

Resuming the day four and the final day on 166-3, Bangladesh aimed to bat out the day but Pakistan bowlers, led by Ali Asfand bowled brilliantly to deny the hosts despite Sakib’s knock that included 14 fours.