Afghanistan pound Bangladesh U-19s

The Bangladesh Under-19 team's poor batting displays continued as they lost the fourth Youth ODI against their Afghan counterparts by 45 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Off spinner Mujeeb Zadran was the wrecker-in-chief for the visitors, finishing with seven wickets for just 19 runs as the home side were sent packing for 88 in reply to 133.

The home side lost six wickets for only 11 runs and a 75-run seventh-wicket partnership between Mahidul Islam (43) and Nayeem Hasan (30) was not ultimately enough to spare the hosts' blushes.

Zadran eventually broke the partnership by removing Hasan as Bangladesh lost their last four wickets for two runs, seeing Nayeem's all-round performance -- he also picked up five wickets -- go in vain.

The visitors now hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match series and the home side, who began the series with a 145-run win before suffering a five-wicket defeat in the third game after the second match was abandoned due to rain, will need to win tomorrow's final game to save the series.

SCORES IN BRIEF

AFGHANISTAN: 133 all out in 45 overs (Darwish 23, Nisar 53; Nayeem 5-38, Saif 3-7)

BANGLADESH: 88 all out in 30.3 overs (Mahidul 43, Nayeem 30; Zadran 7-19, Qais 2-22)

Result: Afghanistan won by 45 runs and lead the 5-match series 2-1.