Sports reporter/

The presence of the audience in the gallery of the Shahid Kamaruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi was eye-popping. They did not have to be disappointed. The spectators of Rajshahi saw a thrilling fight. Bangladesh’s youth ODI series against South Africa was, however, thrilling. The two teams went down to the last match with a 2-2 tie. Bangladesh U-19 team won the series by 3 wickets by 3-2.

Batting with a target of 211 runs, Bangladesh lost 2 wickets for 48 runs, but the third wicket pair of opener Adil Bin Siddique and Ariful Islam went a long way. The two added 87 runs. The pair broke the wicket of Adil who scored 58 runs off 70 balls. Ariful, however, kept the innings going.

The hosts were on their way to an easy victory with a score of 179 for 4 wickets. That suddenly became 189 runs for 7 wickets. Ariful, who scored 71 runs off 81 balls, also took a catch at long on. The two new batsmen at the crease are captain Mahfuzur Rahman and Rafi Uzzaman. The inseparable pair of the two crossed Bangladesh safely. However, Adil and Ariful’s fifty innings of 80-perono strike rate ensures that Bangladesh has enough balls in hand. Mahfuzur and Rafi can get the team through without taking any risk. Before this, these two played one of the important roles in bowling to advance Bangladesh in the first innings as well.

After losing the toss and fielding, South Africa’s innings progressed almost at the pace of the previous match. They lost wickets in bunches. Except for 52 runs in the fourth wicket and 44 runs in the fifth wicket, no pair has grown like that. David Tigger scored the only fifty of the innings.

South African youth lost 2 wickets in 18 runs by pacer Rizan Hussain, Rafi came and made them 49 runs for 3 wickets. The fourth wicket partnership of Tiger and Richard Celestewan then added 52 runs. Ariful broke the pair by returning Celestewan.

Tiger scored another 44 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Juan James. He broke the pair on Tiger’s wicket, caught by Rohanat Dowler. Rohanat, Rafi and Mahfuzur Rabi then struck at regular intervals. The visitors lost the last 6 wickets to score 65 runs. They are all out with 2 balls left in the innings.

Rizan took 2 wickets with only 15 runs in 8 overs. Rohanat and Rafi also took two wickets each. Highest 3 wickets by captain Rabbi, he cost 43 runs.

Summary Score-

South Africa U19: 210 in 49.4 overs (Tigger 63, James 32, Celestewan 27; Alder 20; Rabi 3/43, Rizan 2/15, Rafi 2/39, Rohanat 2/53, Ariful 1/18).
Bangladesh U-19: 211/7 in 47.1 overs (Ariful 71, Adil 58, Shihab 17, Rabi 15*; Alder 4/23, James 3/32).
Result: Bangladesh U-19 won by 3 wickets.