Ton-up Tamim guides Bangladesh to winning start

Skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim struck a brilliant hundred to help the Bangladesh Under-19 team to a 45-run win over Afghanistan in their opening fixture of the ACC Men's U-19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE today. 

Tamim hit 133-ball 103, featuring eight fours and four sixes and put together a 142-run stand with Kalam Siddiki Aleen (66) to guide the defending champions to 228-9 after being sent into bat first.

Afghanistan were very much in the run chase as late as the 36th over, courtesy of Faisal Khan Ahmadzai who scored a run-a-ball 58 and Naseer Khan Maroofkhil's 34-run knock but after the fall of the duo, Afghanistan lost their way in the chase.

Pace duo Al Fahad and Iqbal Hossain Emon took three wickets each, while their pace partner Maruf Mridha scalped two as Afghanistan lost their last six wickets for just 24 runs and got bundled out for 183 runs in 47.5 overs.

Bangladesh will face Nepal in their second Group B match at the same venue on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the other match of the day, Sri Lanka beat Nepal by 55 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The Group A fixtures will get underway tomorrow as India will take on archrivals Pakistan in Dubai, while last edition's runners-up UAE will face Japan in the other match in Sharjah.