Winning start for Soumya and Co. in SA games

Bangladesh U-23 men's cricket team got their South Asian games cricket campaign off to a winning start, defeating Maldives by 109 runs at Nepal's Kirtipur today.

Openers Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar gave Bangladesh a solid start after the latter won the toss and elected to bat in the T20 match. Naim departed after a 28-ball 38 after a 59-run opening stand with Soumya and then Nazmul Hossain Shanto came in to feature in another strong partnership. Skipper Soumya hit 46 off 33 with four fours and two sixes before departing in the 14th over. Afif Hossain contributed with a cameo 16 off 9 before falling while Nazmul missed out on a fifty, hitting 49 off 38 before departing in the final over as Bangladesh posted 174 for four.

Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam bagged five wickets for 19 runs to leave Maldives five down for 45 runs in chase. Minhajul Abedin Afridi and Afif bagged two wickets each while Soumya bagged one as Maldives were bundled out for 65 runs in 19.2 overs.