Bangladesh under 19s outfit finally recorded a win during their tour of Sri Lank, 2015 when they beat the hosts by 39 runs in the 3rd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Bangladesh skipper Mehedy Hassan Miraz won the toss of coin and elected to bat on a batting paradise at the mecca of Sri Lanka Cricket. The visitors got off to a decent start with an opening partnership of 44 runs. The one drop batsman Nazmul Hossain Shanto continued his excellent form with the bat as he played yet another gem of an innings making a stylish 69 in 75 balls with 6 boundaries. Skipper Mehedy chipped in with a 50-ball 37 before being dismissed hit wicket off his counterpart Charith Asalanka.
Bangladesh was 209 for 4 with only 5 overs left of the innings when the 16-year old left-hand Zakir Hasan played a blinder to take his team to a strong total of 251. He smashed 8 fours and a six during his blitz of 62 in 46 balls. The Lankan skipper and off-spinner Charith Asalanka once again bowled economically to scalp two wickets for 33 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
Chasing a daunting target of 252 to take an unassailable lead in the series, Sri Lanka lost both their openers in just 13 deliveries with only 10 runs on the board. Charith Asalanka was once again given the responsibility of steering his team with the bat. The left-handed number 3 batter stroked 83 runs in 102 balls during his exciting innings which had five fours and a six.
Charith constructed an 85-run partnership with Vishad Randika for the 4th wicket yet it was not enough for the hosts to chase down a massive target. Randika took 57 deliveries for his useful 36 while Sammu Ashan and Wanindu Hasaranga De Silva made 20 and 26 respectively.
Sri Lanka eventually fell 39 runs short of the target. Off-spinning skipper Mehedy Hassan took 3 wickets for 36 runs while his partner-in-crime Sanjit Saha grabbed 3 scalps in an impressive spell of spin bowling.
Bangladesh still trails in the five-match ODI series which stands at 2-1 after three games. 4th ODI will be played on 24th January at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Chief Scores:
Bangladesh U19 – 251/6 in 50 overs: Nazmul Hossain Shanto 69, Zakir Hasan 62, Mehedy Hasan 37, Saif Hussain 34, Charith Asalanka 2/33.
Sri Lanka U19 – 212 all out in 47.2 overs: Charith Asalanka 83, Vishad Randika 36, Wanindu Hasaranga 26, Mehedy Hasan 3/36, Sanjit Saha 3/30.
