Defending champions BD U19s crash out of WC

Title defenders Bangladesh Under-19 crashed out of the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup after suffering a five-wicket defeat to their Indian counterparts in the quarterfinal at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua today. 

Having lost the trophy to Bangladesh in the final two years back in Potchefstroom, India redeemed themselves with a rather convincing win.   

The young Tigers, however, will still play in the play-off semifinals, which are played to determine the placings in the World Cup.  

In today's game, despite getting bundled out for a meagre 111 in 37.1 overs, Bangladesh bowlers did put up a decent enough fight on a pitch that had ample support for both pacers and spinners. However, in the end, India eventually got over the line with ease as they chased down the low total with 115 balls to spare. 

Defending a low total, Bangladesh got off to a good start as pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib had opener Harnoor Singh caught behind for naught in the second over with India still to open their score. 

Since then, the young Tigers kept things extremely tight, bowling as many as 48 dots in the first 10 overs. 

However, with scoreboard pressure almost non-existent, India consolidated through a steady 70-run stand between Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Shaik Rasheed. 

Pacer Ripon Mondol then somewhat sparked life into the game as he broke the ominous-looking stand between Raghuvanshi and Rasheed before picking three more wickets in quick succession.     

But Ripon's impressive figures of four for 31 in nine overs that included a maiden could not hold India back from registering a win. 

Earlier, after being asked to bat, Bangladesh suffered a horrible batting collapse and were at one stage reduced to seven for just 56 runs in 23.4 overs. 

SM Meherob Hasan's hard-fought 30 alongside Aich Mollah's 17 and another 16-run knock from Ashiqur Zaman at the death saw the young Tigers hobble past the 100-run mark.