DHAKA: A match-winning stand by Zakir Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraj as Bangladesh marched past first time into the coveted semifinal of the ICC U-19 World Cup as they beat Nepal by six-wicket in the first quarter-finals held on Friday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur.

Chasing a decent winning target of 212 runs set by Nepal, The junior
Tigers started their chase not in a positive manner as they lost their three
top orders batsmen early, but a responsible batting display by middle order
Zakir (75n.o off 77 balls, 5×4, 1×6)) and skipper Miraj (55n.o off 65 balls,
3×4) took Bangladesh safely at home making 215 in 48.2 overs with six-wicket
in hand.

Bangladesh lost their day’s first wicket of opener Saif Hasan only for 5,
Pinak Ghosh (32) and Nazmul Hossain (8) also returned to the pavilion with
Bangladesh tottering 75 for 3 in 22 overs.

First down Joyraz Sheikh kept the scoreboard moving steadily as he
contributed a patient 38-run off 67-balls laced with four boundaries before
he was trapped leg before wicket by Sunil Dhamala delivery, leaving
Bangladesh in deep trouble.

Later, Zakir and skipper Mirak took the responsibility to stop the rot
contributing 117 runs for the 5th wicket stand and eventually took Bangladesh
at home confirming their team’s remarkable victory.

Sunil Dhamala was the most successful bowler for Nepal taking two wickets
for 33 runs.

After the match, man of the tournament Miraj said: “Really happy, credit to
Zakir for coming up with an excellent knock. The plan was to play for the
singles and rotate strike, and it worked. The wicket was largely good, but a
few balls turned as well. This win is great for the country.”

Losing Nepalese captain Raju Rijal said: “We lost a clutch of wickets
after 25 overs, which resulted in us losing 25-30 runs with the bat.”

Have to admit it was a little strange to not see Aarif Shaikh bowl another
spell after conceding just nine runs in his first five overs. Not too sure if
he was injured. Didn’t look that way, but we will soon find out at the post-
match press conference. Nepal’s spinners did well, but the lack of
experience, especially as the game got tensed towards the end, showed, he
added.

Earlier, Nepal, after opting to bat first, scored a decent total of 211
for 9 from their allotted 50 overs with skipper Raju Rijal composed a
captaincy knock of 72-run off 80 balls before being run out at the 34th over.

Nepal lost the day’s first wicket as Sandeep Sunar was bowled by Mohammad
Saifuddin in the 6th over for only 7 runs. He was quickly followed by
Yogendra Singh karki who became the victim of run out in the very next over.
Dhamala put up a score of 25 runs in 62 balls.

Sunil Dhamala scored 25 runs off 62 balls, number seven batsman Dipendra
Singh put up 22 runs and Aarif Sheikh added 21 runs on the board in 32 balls
for Nepal.

Nepal U-19s lost four of its wickets through run out.

Mohammad Saifuddin was the pick of Bangladesh bowler capturing two wickets
conceding 38 runs while Mehedi Hasan Rana and Saleh Ahmed Shawon and Mehedi
Hasan Miraz bagged one wicket apiece.