Bangladesh U-19s restrict Kiwis to 211 for eight

Bangladesh U-19s restricted New Zealand U-19s to 211 for eight in the semifinal of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup at Potchefstroom today, courtesy of some tight line and length from the bowlers.

Having sent New Zealand to bat after winning the toss, Bangladesh picked up early wickets with Shamim Hossain getting the first wicket in the second over of the innings before Rakibul Hasan, who finished with figures of 35 for 1 in 10 overs, struck to make further inroads in the 12th over.

The tight and disciplined bowling paid dividends with the Kiwis always under pressure to score freely. After losing four wickets for 74 runs in the 26th over, Nicholas Lidstone and Beckham Wheeler-Greenall took control with a 67-run partnership.

Young left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam was the most impressive, getting sideways movement off the pitch coupled with some deliveries that rose from a length after pitching. Shoriful, along with Hasan Murad and Shamim dismantled the Kiwis in the death overs but Beckham's resilient 75 off 83 deliveries ensured that the young Blackcaps crossed 200 mark. Shoriful was the pick of the bowlers despite an expensive final over in which he conceded 17 runs and finished with figures of 45 for three. Shamim and Hasan bagged two wickets each.