Bangladesh keep cool to ease past England

England 216 in 47.2 overs (Banks 74, Brook 66; Hossain 3/18) lost to Bangladesh 220/5 in 47.3 overs (Hassan 59, Hossain 71) by five wickets.

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A collapse of epic proportions from England’s middle and lower order undid the good work of Liam Banks and Harry Brook, both of whom hit half-centuries in a 126-run stand for the second wicket. Banks scored an 82-ball 74 and Brook a run-a-ball 66, but only two other players reached double digits as Bangladesh bowled England out for 216 in 47.2 overs.

That collapse cost them dear as Bangladesh eased to a five-wicket victory, guided by Afif Hossain’s all-round display. He first returned 3/18 before scoring a level-headed 86-ball 71 to guide the chase, along with Bangladesh captain Saif Hassan (59), who scored a fine half-century himself at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Sunday (28 January).

There was to be no repeat of England’s Group C victory over the same opponents, and the result meant that Bangladesh would go on to face South Africa in the fifth-place play-off in the 2018 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup, while England and New Zealand battle it out to finish seventh.

England were put in by Saif, and the decision was justified when Tom Banton was sent back by Robiul Haque (6) in as early as the sixth over. England didn’t let that trouble them though, with Banks and Brook taking the attack to the bowlers. Brook found the fence twice off Robiul in the next over, and for a while, Bangladesh were reduced to chasing leather.

The batsmen matched each other in shot-making, and both soon crossed their half-centuries. However, the stand was brought to a sudden end by Mohammad Rakib, thanks to an excellent relay-catch in the deep. Banks lifted one to long-off, but Towhid Hridoy managed to get his hands on it just before the ropes. Realising he would cross over, he flung the ball back to Robiul waiting thereabouts, and Banks had to walk.

The wicket triggered an implosion. Will Jacks (2) was sent back in the next over, Hasan Mahmud getting his first. In his next over, Mahmud had Brook holing out as well. When Euan Woods (4) and Finlay Trenouth (1) fell in consecutive overs, England were reduced to 157/6.

There was some fight thereafter, with Jack Davies and Prem Sissodiya adding 34 for the seventh wicket. Afif broke the stand with the dismissal of Sissodiya (20), but Davies’s 41-ball 26 ensured got England past the 200-mark.

Unfortunately, they needed much more than that. Bangladesh did lose Pinak Ghosh (7) early on after he edged Ethan Bamber to slips, but their batsmen added fairly sizeable partnerships to lead the charge.

Saif first added 37 with Aminul Islam (20) before the latter was caught behind off Adam Finch. He then added 17 more with Hridoy (10), who holed out off Brook. At the time, Bangladesh were 82/3, but England barely had a sniff after that. Saif was joined by Afif and the two pegged England back, thoughtfully picking the gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving. Bangladesh inched ahead, gradually, and though Sissodiya had Saif trapped in front, Afif took over to guide them to the verge of victory.

The Bangladesh batsmen displayed a calm head when they needed to. Rakib gave adequate support to Afif, and the two took Bangladesh to within seven runs of the target before Afif was bowled out needlessly, completely missing a slog against Woods. But it was too little too late for England, as Rakib scored the winning runs with a crash through point.