Bangladesh U19 players gave their countrymen something to cheer about when they defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in a tense match to clinch third place in the ICC U19 CWC 2016.

Shanto and Miraz were the highest scorers for Tigers. Miraz scored 53 and Nazmul 40 to take their team close to the target. In the end it was Jaker Ali and Rana at the crease to take Bangladesh past Sri Lanka’s total.

For Sri Lanka Ashan was the highest wicket-taker with two for 39 in eight overs. Fernando and Silva took a wicket each. Sri Lanka managed to peg back Bangladesh by inflicting three run-outs in their innings.

Mosabbek Hossain was next to fall, and he was sent back by Ashan in the 48th over to stall Bangladesh’s innings.

Ashan sent back Shafiul for 21in the 46th over to give Sri Lanka hopes of a victory today.

 Bangladesh suffered a severe blow in the 38th over when the set batsman Nazmul perished in another run out. Nazmul kept his side in the game with his knock of 40 runs in 57 balls.

His departure sent the cat among the pigeons as far as Bangladesh was concerned.

A tired looking Mehedi was run out in the 36th over, not before he took his team close to their target with a captain’s knock of 53 runs under pressure.

Mehedi was instrumental in the third-wicket stand that produced 88 runs in 18 overs. He faced 66 balls and struck two fours and a six during his stay at the wicket.

The third wicket partnership between Miraz and Shanto kept Sri Lankan bowlers at bay, and ensured Bangladesh middle-order batters wouldn’t have too much to do late in the chase.

Bangladesh captain Miraz and Nazmul steadied Bangladesh’s innings after Jaker Ali left the field retired hurt in the 15th over.

Sri Lanka got off to a great start when Bangladesh began the chase of 215 with their new ball bowlers running in hard and hitting the probing length on off consistently.

AM Fernando got his full delivery to swing in the air to beat Bangladesh opener Zakir in the first over. The perfect in-swinging yorker flattened the off stump as the batter was beaten by pace as well.

Sri Lanka piled on the pressure on Bangladesh with their bowlers giving nothing away early.

Earlier, with an inspired performance in the field, Bangladesh kept Sri Lanka down to 214 in the crucial third-place match of the ICC U19 CWC 2016 at Fatullah.

Tigers captain Miraz took three wickets while Saifuddin and Halim captured two each.

Sri Lanka captain Asalanka kept his side in the match with his knock under pressure.

Abdul Halim took the last Sri Lanka wicket in the 49th over when Kumara fell for three runs.

Sri Lanka captain Asalanka, who stood his ground when wickets fell around him and pulled his team out of the morass, was finally sent back to the pavilion in the 49th over.

Asalanka was the highest scorer for his side, and scored 76 runs from 99 balls with six fours and a six during his stay at the wicket. Abdul Halim got his wicket.

Sri Lanka lost their eighth wicket in the 45 over when Damitha Silva was run out for naught.

Saifuddin returned in the 44th over to dash Sri Lanka’s hopes of a fighting total with a two-wicket burst to the delight of his teammates.

Daniel was gone first ball as Saifuddin’s in-swinging yorker was too good for the Sri Lankan tailender.

Wanidu de Silva was dismissed as his big heave across the line brought his downfall. The full, swinging ball was too quick for de Silva after he scored 30 from 36 balls.

Bangladesh took the fifth Sri Lankan wicket in the 33rd over, when de Silva paid the price for an attempted sweep to a full ball.

Saleh Ahmed Shawon pushed through his delivery that drifted in, and struck the back heel of de Silva. Sri Lanka’ fourth wicket stand lasted 6.1 overs and produced 22 runs.

Sri Lanka captain Asalanka needed to come to his team’s rescue, and he was batting intelligently while facing spin from both ends.

Sri Lanka found some solace in their third wicket partnership. It produced 39 runs in 9.1 overs before Mehedi Hasan Rana struck in the 27th over.

Ashan played a loose cut shot to a back of length delivery that slanted away. Poor execution resulted in the edge to the keeper. Sri Lanka batter scored 27 from 32 balls with four fours and a six.

Bangladesh tightened their grip of this match after prevented their opponent to consolidate with substantial partnerships.

Bangladesh players celebrate a fall of wicket during the ICC U19 CWC 2016. File photo: STAR

Sri Lanka lost their third wicket in the 18th over, and it was Tigers captain Miraz again with his loopy offies that did the trick! Miraz now had three scalps in five overs for only six runs.

Avishka Fernando failed to glance away an innocuous leg-side ball, but deflected it straight into the gloves of the keeper. The Bangladesh keeper could hardly contain himself, bounced up and down as if he won the cup as the umpire raised his finger.

Sri Lanka were truly reeling after Bangladesh took three quick wickets in five overs to turn the tables on this match.

Bangladesh removed both the Sri Lankan openers by the 14th over, and it was their captain Miraz who delivered the good once again.

Mendis was playing for the turn, missed Mehedi’s slider that struck him on the back pad. Sri Lankan batsman was quite aggressive at the crease, scored 26 from 31 with three fours to his name.

Bangladeshi spinners began turning the screws on Sri Lankan batters with tight spells from both ends.

Tigers skipper Miraz struck in the 12th over to give his side an important breakthrough, as Sri Lankan openers had settled down at the wicket.

Ushan was stumped for 34 when he ran down the pitch, got beaten by the turn and the keeper did the rest. He played 45 balls and struck five fours in his knock.

The opening stand of 60 placed Sri Lanka in a good position early.

Sri Lankan opening batters Salindu Ushan and Kamindu Mendis vindicated their captain decision to bat first, and batted positively from ball one.

Bangladesh searched desperately for a wicket, but they were denied by the Sri Lankan duo, as they scored 53 runs in ten overs in the third place play-off.

Saifuddin and Rana both conceded runs early, and allowed the batsmen too many loose deliveries for their liking.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss, and decided to bat first against Bangladesh led by Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the third-place play-off game of ICC U119 CWC 2016.

In the quarterfinal, Nepal Under-19 found the crowd pressure too hot to handle, while in the semifinal against West Indies Under-19, the home team was able to take the game into the 49th over because of the momentum built by close to 15,000 people chanting ‘Bangladesh…Bangladesh’.
 
The stadium in Fatullah is not as overwhelming as that in Mirpur, but Mehedi Hasan Miraz, the highest wicket-taker and the most-capped captain at this level, will be expecting the fans to come in large number in his farewell Under-19 game.
 
Like him, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, the highest run-getter in the history of Youth One-Day Internationals, Saeed Sarkar, Joyraz Sheik and Zakir Hasan, will also be ending their stint after making two ICC Under-19 World Cup appearances.
 
Bangladesh’s biggest issue has been the failure of the openers, and that has invariably put pressure on the middle order. Against the West Indies, the lack of a proper start forced the batsmen to go into a defensive mould very early in the game.

Sri Lanka will be aware of Bangladesh’s strengths and weaknesses, and vice-versa. The team that makes fewer mistakes will help its captain end his junior cricket career on a high.
 
Bangladesh: Mehedi Hassan Miraz (capt), Nazmul Hossain, Joyraj Sheik, Pinak Ghosh, Saif Hassan, Zakir Hasan (wk), Mohammad Saifuddin, Shafiul Hayat, Saeed Sarkar, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Abdul Halim, Saleh Ahmed, Ariful Islam, Jaker Ali, Mossabek Hossain Sun.

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (capt), Sammu Ashan, Kaveen Bandara, Jehan Daniel, Avishka Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Charana Nanayakkara, Thilan Nimesh, Vishard Randika, Lahiru Samarakoon, Damitha Silva.

England U19 Captain Brad Taylor won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting friendly wicket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium against West Indies U19 led by Simon Hetmyer. File Photo: STAR