U19 World Cup: Hosts Bangladesh eye maiden final

Take on West Indies in last-four clash in Mirpur.

DUBAI: Hosts Bangladesh will face a stern test when they clash with the unpredictable West Indies in the semi-final of the U19 World Cup on Thursday.

A win over the West Indies will steer Bangladesh into its maiden final, where three-time champions India await.

However, it would be a folly to look past the West Indies, who have gone from strength to strength in the tournament.

After losing to England by 61 runs in the tournament opener, the boys from the Caribbean brushed aside Fiji by 262 runs before scoring a thrilling, albeit controversial, two-run win over Zimbabwe to qualify for the quarter-final, where they upset Pakistan.



Bangladesh have also not looked back since defeating the tournament’s defending champion South Africa by 43 runs in the opening match.

The hosts then routed unheralded Fiji and Namibia on the way to the quarter-finals, where they overcame Nepal by six wickets in an impressive all-round display.

England to face Pakistan in fifth-sixth place match

England demolished Namibia by 203 runs to set up a clash with Pakistan for the fifth-sixth position play-off, scheduled to take place on Friday.

England piled up 286-9 after being sent in to bat in a match reduced to 48 overs a side due to murky weather in Fatullah.

Jack Burnham hit 109, his third century in the tournament, to become the leading run-getter in this edition with 418 runs.

Namibia, who had ousted defending champion South Africa at the group stage before losing to India in the quarter-finals, were shot out for 83 runs in just 25.2 overs.

Mason Crane grabbed 3-3 and Dan Lawrence took 2-7. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th,  2016.

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