Potchefstroom: Following Bangladesh bowlers' sharp bowling captain Akbar Ali played an innings like an experienced pro to lead his team to their maiden ICC U-19 World Cup victory here at Senwes Park on Sunday. Akbar remained unbeaten on 43 as Bangladesh defeated India by three wickets. As rain interrupted the game in the 41st over, Bangladesh were given a revised target of 170 runs from 46 overs. They completed the proceedings with 23 balls remaining.
Bangladesh's victory meant Ravi Bishnoi's four-wicket haul went in vain.
In reply to India's 177, Bangladesh openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan provided them with a subtle start as the duo built 50 runs partnership. The ominous-looking partnership was broken by Ravi Bishnoi when the Indian spinner bamboozled Hasan for 17.
The much-needed breakthrough exposed Bangladesh to Bishnoi's crafts. While Towhid Hridoy was dismissed in the very next over of Bishnoi, Shahadat Hossain was the next man to go.
Adding more problems to Bangladesh, Sushant Mishra dismissed Shamim Hossain and Avishek Das to reduce them to 102 in the sixth delivery of 23rd over.
Akbar Ali and Parvez Hossain Emon's 47 runs partnership
However, captain Akbar Ali played a sensible knock to bring Bangladesh back in the game. Akbar was ably supported by opener Parvez Hossain Emon who scored 47.
The 41-run sixth-wicket partnership between Akbar and Emon was broken by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Emon's dismissal was important for India as the match took a new turn following his departure. But Akbar's grit and tenacity helped Bangladesh win their maiden crown jewel. Furthermore, rain helped them to finish the proceedings even before the expected time.
Earlier, winning the toss, Bangladesh bowlers demonstrated an outstanding performance which was ably supported by their fielders to bowl out India for paltry 177.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only man who crossed the half-century mark against a fiery Bangladesh bowling attack which was opted to sledge Indian batsmen to get under their skin.
When wicket was toppling from one end, Jaiswal stood tall in the middle during his 88 runs knock off 121 balls. With this half-century, he finished the World Cup on top of run-scorers' chart with 400 runs in six matches.
However, his teammates fell in a pack to Bangladesh who came out all guns blazing. Openers Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena were greeted with a barrage of deliveries angled at the body and cramping them for space. Saxena was, especially, targeted by Tanzim Hasan Sakib with the ball and verbally. It took India 14 balls to finally get their first run.
The constant pressure from Sakib and Shoriful Islam eventually did the trick when Saxena flashed at a delivery outside off stump and drove it straight to backward point. Avishek Das was the man who got the wicket and it was his first over of the match.
Jaiswal built 94 runs partnership with Tilak Verma
After this came the most stable period of the Indian innings as Jaiswal and Tilak Varma stood their ground to the Bangladesh attack. Runs began to flow and Jaiswal scored his fifth 50 of the tournament. The pair also took India past the 100-run mark and their partnership was worth 94 runs.
It was Sakib who eventually got the breakthrough for Bangladesh with a short delivery that Varma looked to cut. The ball flew into the hands of the fielder at deep backward point.
Jaiswal then found an able company in wicketkeeper Dhruv Jorel but ended up falling to Shoriful Islam eight overs later. He cramped Jaiswal for room and his attempted shot flew to short midwicket where Tanzid Hasan was standing.
India went on to lose their next six wickets for 21 runs in the next nine overs. Islam dismissed Siddesh Veer off the very next ball of the over after which Jorel and Ravi Bishnoi were both run out due to mix-ups between the wicket. Atharva Ankolekar and Kartik Tyagi were dismissed by Avishek while Sushant Mishra fell to Sakib.
