U-19s on the cusp of big win

Bangladesh Under-19s slowly but surely moved into a winning position by the end of the third day of the first four-day Youth Test against their English counterparts at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

The visitors ended the day on a shaky 89 for six, still 29 runs shy of making the hosts bat again after Bangladesh declared their first innings closed on a strong 398 for nine after resuming the third day on 266 for five. Skipper Akbar Ali added 26 runs to his overnight score of 56 before being dismissed by Tom Lammonby. The other overnight batsman, Shahadat Hossain, carried on and scored 84 before he was ninth out with the lead having swelled to 118, at which point Akbar declared the innings.

In reply, England once again had no answer to Asadullah Hill Ghalib, who took six wickets for 68 runs during England's first innings. Asadullah accounted for three wickets in the second innings, ending the day with figures of three for 22.

SCORES IN BRIEF

ENGLAND U-19S: 1st innings 280 all out and 2nd innings 89 for 6 (Charlesworth 20; Asadullah 3-22, Minhajur 2-16)

BANGLADESH U-19S: 398 for 9 dec (Shahadat 84, Akbar 82, Parvez 62, Towhid 61; Qadri 2-105)