Shamyl, Minhas lead Pakistan U19 to edge Bangladesh in one-off T20

RAJSHAHI: Shamyl Hussain’s magnificent half-century and Arafat Minhas’s quickfire knock propelled Pakistan U19 to beat Bangladesh U19 by four wickets in the one-off T20 here on Wednesday.

Set to chase 160, Pakistan U19 were off to an unwanted start as the touring side lost their in-form opener Shazaib Khan (0) in the first over with just seven runs on the scoreboard.

Skipper Saad Baig and opening batter Shamyl Hussain then anchored the run chase with a crucial second-wicket partnership and added 41 runs to the total before the skipper perished after scoring 24 off 16.

Shamyl Hussain then stitched a vital 41-run partnership with Tayyab Arif (16) before putting on a match-defining partnership with Arafat Minhas.

The duo of Hussain and Minhas raised 56 runs in just 33 deliveries for the fourth-wicket partnership and put Pakistan in control before Minhas fell in the 17th over.

He scored a quickfire 41 off 22 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and a six.

Hussain, on the other hand, held his ground firm before finally perishing in the 19th over after top-scoring in the run chase with a brilliant half-century.

He played a sensible 67-run knock in 49 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries and a six.

Iqbal Hossain Emmon led the bowling attack for Bangladesh U19 with 3/23 followed by Rohanat Doullah Borson’s 2/39.

Put into bat first, Bangladesh could accumulate 159/5 in the allotted 20 overs despite a quickfire half-century by their opener Jishan Alam.

Jishan top-scored for the hosts with a brisk 52 off just 26 balls, hitting five boundaries and four sixes.

Besides him, Ariful Islam remained the notable run-getter for Bangladesh with 30 off 25 balls while Alam’s opening partner Mohinul Islam scored 21.

Ahmed Hussain led the bowling attack for Pakistan U19 with 2/25 while Amir Hassan, Ali Asfand and Muhammad Tahir struck out a batter each.

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