Bangladesh secure gold in mens cricket
Image : BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh men’s cricket team (U-23) secured the gold medal in the 13th South Asian Games after crushing Sri Lanka (U-23) by seven wickets at Kiritpur, Nepal on Monday.
The second gold in cricket took their tally to record 19 gold medals, bettering the previous record of 18 gold medals back in 2010 when Bangladeshwas the host of the event.
In doing so, Bangladesh also bolstered their best SA Games performance outside the country. In 1995, Bangladesh had won seven gold medals in MadrasSA Games, which was their best display abroad in regional Games.
It was kind a sweet revenge for the men’s team, a U-23 team but mostlyformed with national players, who suffered a shocking nine-wicket defeat toSri Lanka on Sunday.
But in the crucial game, they didn’t make the mistakes as theydemonstrated an all-round performance to get the better of Sri Lankan team.
A solid bowling effort saw Bangladesh team to bundle out Sri Lanka for122 in 20 overs after sending them to bat first.
Bangladeshi batsmen made a mockery with Sri Lanka bowling than to reach the target in 18.1 overs, making 125-3.
Captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto led the charge in facile victory with 28ball-35 not out, hitting two fours and one six. But the platform was set bythe openers-Saif Hasan and Soumya Sakra, who combined for a 44-run to quell the apprehension of another upset.
Saif made 33 off 30 with three fours and two sixes while Soumya who wasn't featured in the last day’s game against Sri Lanka made 28. Yasir Ali was the other notable scorer with 19.
However, the credit should go to the bowlers who gave the batsmen an easy target to achieve what they set prior to the Games.
Right arm medium fast bowler Hasan Mahmud, a regular face of BangladeshUnder-17 team, was the wrecker-in-chief with 3-20 in his four overs. Hisnagging line and length caused the havoc early in the Lankan innings fromwhich they had never got away with.
New ball bowler Sumon Khan also chipped-in-with measly bowling effort ashe conceded just 16 runs in four overs to claim one wicket while Tanvir Islamgrabbed 2-28.
Bangladesh Women’s team earlier beat Sri Lanka also to claim gold medal. Bangladesh men’s team also acquired gold in Guangzhou Asian Games, in China in 2010.
