adminZimbabwe Under-19 fought valiantly in an attempt to defend their score of 145 runs, but they succumbed to a five-wicket loss to hosts Bangladesh Under-19 in the first Youth One-Day International (ODI) match played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe struggled for partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals in the face of slow left-arm orthodox spin.
Opening batsmen Jeremy Ives top-scored with 41 runs while all-rounder William Mashinge chipped in with 38, but the rest of the batting order lacked any consistency to post a more formidable target.
For Bangladesh, Saleh Ahmed Shawon (3/19) and Ariful Islam (3/23) were the chief destroyers in what proved to be a polished bowling performance by the hosts.
Zimbabwe Under-19 came out firing from ball one, mindful of the limited runs on the board to play with, and this move rattled the hosts, who found themselves on seven runs for the loss of three wickets inside the fourth over.
Mashinge led the onslaught upfront in an inspired spell of bowling, removing Pinak Gosh (2), Nazmul Hossain Shanto (2) and Zakir Hasan (1) in quick succession.
Bangladesh had to dig deep and the response came from Saif Hassan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who together put on 101 runs for the fourth wicket-partnership to shut out Zimbabwe’s endeavours.
Mashinge eventually got rid of Hasan for 51 and Miraz for 65 to finish with career-best figures of five wickets for 27 runs in six overs, but this could not prevent Bangladesh from reaching the target with 115 balls to spare.
The two sides meet again tomorrow for the second Youth ODI of the four-match series at the same venue.
Zimbabwe U19 – 145 all out in 49.1 overs (Jeremy Ives 41, William Mashinge 38; Saleh Ahmed Shawon 3/19, Ariful Islam 3/23)
Bangladesh U19 –146/5 in 30.5 overs (Mehedi Hasan Miraz 65, Saif Hassan 51; William Mashinge 5/27)
Online Reporter