Bangladesh U19 scores despite Smith heroics

Liam Smith shrugged off a lean trot but the opener’s century wasn’t enough to prevent South Africa Under-19, the defending champion, from stumbling to a43-run loss at the hands of Bangladesh Under-19 in a Group A match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday (January 27).

Smith, who had scored exactly 100 runs in six games prior to the World Cup, warm-ups included, drew an outline for South Africa to work with by making a patient 146-ball 100 in pursuit of 241, but the three-time finalist was outplayed thoroughly with both bat and ball to suffer its first defeat against Bangladesh in the competition. South Africa was bowled out for 197 from 48.4 overs after Bangladesh, opting to bat first, had made 240 for 7.

Those hopes were snuffed out when Smith became the first scalp for Saleh Ahmed Shawon’s, the left-arm spinner. The tail wagged for a while longer but Bangladesh’s bowlers continued to attack relentlessly to shut out all escape routes for South Africa.

Mehedi, the offspinner, finished with 3 for 37, while Saifuddin returned 3 for 30. Saeed Sarkar and Shawon bagged a couple of wickets apiece.