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Bangladesh retain Asian title

Bangladesh defended their Asian Youth cricket championship title with a six-wicket defeat of Nepal at the Kalang Oval ground in Singapore yesterday.

With this win Bangladesh not only finished unbeaten champions but also extended their supremacy in style over the other ICC associate member nations in this part of the world.

The victory for Bangladesh was, however, icing on the cake as they already confirmed their berth in the forthcoming World Youth Championship along with Nepal by virtue of reaching the final of the Singapore showpiece.

The World Youth Championship, involving 16 team including the nine Test-playing nations, will be held in Sri Lanka in January next year.

Although a victory for Bangladesh, who started the championship as firm favourite, was always on the cards against Nepal, the spirited youths of Bangladesh made a mockery of a contest when they bundled out the surprise-setters in the meet for only 125 runs.

After restricting Nepal to an attainable target it was once again Hannan Sarker who lived up to his credentials of consistency, leading Bangladesh to victory --126 for four in 29.1 overs.

Hannan, a member of the Plate winning World Youth national team in South Africa two years back, scored a characteristic 44 off 60 balls after Bangladesh lost their opener Imran Ahmed at the score of 25.

But Hannan, carried away by the sudden rush of blood, not only deprived himself of what would have been a well-deserved half-century but also failed to earn an enviable feat of remaining unconquered in the meet when the dapper right-hander was caught by Saru off Das.

Hannan was the last batsmen out, with Bangladesh needing only 12 runs to win. Mridul, the portly middle-order batsman, who was adjudged man-of-the-match in the semifinal against Papua New Guinea, then guided Bangladesh to victory without further damage, clobbering the required runs with Salim. Mridul scored an unbeaten 18 that included a couple of lusty blows across the rope.

But the day's personal glory was achieved by wicketkeeper Golam Mortuza. The reserve national stumper, who had a happy hunting behind the wicket, took a spectacular catch and effected three stampings including the vital one of Nepalese opener Saru to win the man-of-the-final award.

Saru scored a defiant 42, the highest contribution to the Nepal total, before being outfoxed by left-arm spinner Imran Rahman.

Imran, another impressive performer among the Bangladeshi cricketers in the meet, finished the match with three for 23 runs in his nine overs.

The victorious national youth team returns home today.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul Quader has congratulated the national youth team for bringing home the glory.

``The victory will be a shot in the arms for Bangladesh's progress in the world cricket'', said Quader in an instant faxed message yesterday.

Result: Bangladesh won by six wickets.

Man-of-the-final: Mortuza (Bangladesh).