Bangladesh reach semi-final of Asiad men’s cricket

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team reached the semi-final of the men’s cricket competition of the 19th Asian Games beating Malaysia Cricket team by two runs in their quarter-final match at Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field in Hangzhou of China on Wednesday.

Electing to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a fighting total of 116 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Malaysia to 114 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Bangladesh faced an early disaster as they lost three wickets for three runs.

Second-down Saif Hassan and third-down Afif Hossain salvaged their team from early debacle contributing together 38 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Afif Hossain was dismissed by Pavandeep Singh when the Tigers’ total was 41 for the loss of four wickets.

Saif Hassan remained unbeaten with 50.

His 52-ball innings was laced with two sixes and one four.

Afif Hossain made 23 from 14 deliveries featuring two fours and two sixes.

After Afif’s departure, Saif Hassan and Shahadat Hossain mended the innings scoring together 45 runs in the five-wicket stand before Shahadat Hossain was caught & bowled by Anwar Rahman when Bangladesh’s score was 86 for the loss of five wickets.

Shahadat Hossain notched up 21. He hit three fours in his 26-ball knock.

After Shahadat’s dismissal, Saif Hassan and Jaker Ali put on together 30 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership before Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.

Jaker Ali remained unbeaten with 14 runs.

He hit two fours in his run-a-ball innings.

Pavandeep Singh bagged two wickets at the cost of 12 runs, while Anwar Rahman and Vijay Unni took one wicket each conceding 23 and 46 runs respectively.

Later, third-down Virandeep Singh and opener Syed Aziz fought back against the tight and controlled attack of Bangladesh bowlers.

Afif Hossain and Ripon Mondol played the key role to restrict Malaysia innings.

Afif Hossain and Ripon Mondol grabbed three wickets each instead of 11 and 14 runs respectively.

Rishad Hossain and Rakibul Hasan picked up one wicket each giving 22 and 26 runs respectively.

Virandeep Singh hit a superb 52.

His 39-ball innings ornamented with four sixes and three fours.

Syed Aziz scored 20.

His 31-ball knock had two fours and a sixer.

Ainul Hafizs and Vijay Unni added 14 runs each to Malaysia’s total.