Bangladesh through to Asia Youth Cup Final

Bangladesh qualified for the World Youth Championship for the second time by advancing to the final of the Asia Youth Cup Under-19 cricket, defeating Papua New Guinea in the semi-final in Singapore on Friday.

The young tigers confirmed their ticket for the World Championship in Colombo next January as the two top finishers of the Asia Cup qualify for it. Winners of the second semi-final between Nepal and Malaysia Saturday will be another non-Test country Asian youth team.

In the day's first semi-final at the Kallang ground in Singapore, holders Bangladesh earned a huge 174-run victory over Papua New Guinea.

A brilliant half-century knock by Mazharul Haq Mridul helped Bangladesh, who opted to bat first, to score a respectable 248 for nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. The middle order batsman hammered an unbeaten 73 runs off 85 balls that featured four boundaries. With ball, he had also a good job claiming two wickets for only one run in 3 overs.

Obviously the man of the match award came to him for the all-round performance.

One down Hannan Sarker played another vital innings of 51 runs facing 58 deliveries with six hits across the rope. The two successful batsmen contributed 66-run in the third wicket stand.

Tushar made 18 runs off 45 balls while Rajan Saleh Alam 15 runs off 25 deliveries. PNG's opening bowler Miria captured three wickets for 58 runs while K Dai took two for 40.

In reply, Papua New Guinea were bundled out for 73 runs in 34.4 overs.

Bangladeshi pacer Tariqul Hasan was the most successful bowler of the day with four wickets haul for 24 runs in 8 overs. Besides Mridul, captain Sumit took one wicket for 15 runs in 7 overs. Boge Dikana was the top scorer for the PNG with 21 runs off 47 balls.

Earlier, Bangladesh won the three matches against their opponents with big margins in reaching the semi-final.