U-19 boys win New Zealand series

Bangladesh Under-19 team batsman Mahmudul Hasan kisses on the helmet after scoring a hundred against New Zealand counterparts during the third youth one-day international match in LincoIn on Sunday. — BCB photo

Bangladesh Under-19 team took an unassailable 3-0 lead against New Zealand Under-19 team in their five-match one-day series after securing a convincing eight-wicket win in the third match at Lincoln on Sunday.

Mahmudul Hasan starred in the victory with an unbeaten 103 off 95 balls with ample support from Tanzid Hasan (65 off 64 balls) and Towhid Hridoy (51 off 59 balls not out) as Bangladesh reached 229-2 in 36.5 overs.

Earlier, a measured bowling performance from Bangladesh bowlers restricted New Zealand to a modest 223-8 in their allotted overs despite Fergus Lellman scoring an unbeaten 116 off 133 balls.

Sent to bat, New Zealand lost their first three wickets cheaply and were swiftly reduced to 37-3 inside 12 overs.

Lellman than formed a 59 and 33-run stands for the next two wickets with Jesse Tashkoff (20 off 39 balls) and Jock McKenzie (10 off 28 balls) respectively to give their innings some stability.

But after McKenzie’s dismissal off Shoriful Islam in the 34th over, the home side lost their next three wickets for 34 runs to be reduced to 163-8 in 42.4 overs.

Lellman continued his lone battle, adding 60 runs off 44 balls for the ninth wicket with Hayden Dickson (23 off 28 not out), bringing up his century in the process and pushing their total over 200.

Avishek Das, Tanzid Hasan Sakib and Hasan Murad took two-wicket each for the visitors.

In reply, Bangladesh lost Anik Sarkar (one) cheaply but Mahmudul then took control over the match with a 90-run stand for the second wicket with Tanzid.

Kristian Clarke dismissed Tanzid to break the stand but Mahmudul and Towhid then formed an unbeaten 128-run stand for the third wicket to complete the win with 79 balls to spare.

Mahmudul, who missed out on a hundred by just one run in the previous match, struck 16 fours and one six in his stellar innings.

Bangladesh earlier won the first two matches by an identical six-wicket at the same venue.

The fourth match of the series will take place on Wednesday.

Source: New Age.