Published: 12:41 AM, 16 May 2019
U-16s clinch ODI series 2-1
Bangladesh U-16 team players celebrates after winning the 2nd ODI against Pakistan U-16 in Khulna. -BCB The visiting Pakistan Under-16 side beat Bangladesh Under-16 team by 29 runs in their final ODI match on Wednesday at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna , avoiding a whitewash in the three-match series and salvaging some pride. The tourists got off to a flier courtesy of opening batsman Haseebullah's 129 runs off 141 balls. His partner Sameer Saqib scored a controlled 64 runs off 84 balls to help take Pakistan to a total of 279 for eight in 50 over.
Tigers made dismal start and wickets tumbled as they struggled to cope with pacers Aseer Mughal and Farhad Khan, losing five wickets, including that of in-form all-rounder Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi.
Earlier after asked to bat first, Pakistan came up with a strong batting performance to defeat Bangladesh with their openers Sameer Saqib and Haseebullah held on to score at a good pace to help team cross the 270-run mark. The duo posted 143-run stand for the first wicket.
Haseebullah who was adjudged the player of the match, struck 11 fours and four sixes in his beautiful hundred. Bangladesh bowlers strongly came back to the match in the middle overs with Shamsul Islam Epon kept the visitors under the check. Shamsul Islam claimed five wickets for 45 runs while Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi bagged three wickets.
It wasn't an impossible target, but none of the Bangladeshi batters apart from opener Sakib Shahriar (60 in 82) and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi (46 in 34) really got going as Aseer Mughal returned 3/37 and Farhad Khan3/52.
Earlier, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi who showed standout performance throughout the series, came up with a stellar all-round performance as Bangladesh Under-16 team clinched the three-match one-day series against Pakistan, scraping past the visitors by 17 runs in the second match.
Mahfuz who also contributed in Bangladesh's 89-run victory in the first match, dazzled with both willow and cherry in the second match too, striking a 34 ball-44 not out and leading the bowling attack with a 3-50 figure to help the team to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
