All-round Bangladesh U-19 cricket team swept into the semi-final of the U-19 World Cup after thumping their South African counterparts by 104 runs in the third quarter-final at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom Thursday.
The junior Tigers will now take on New Zealand in the second semi-final next Thursday at the same venue.
Asked to bat first, the youngsters in red and green were off to a good start as openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan put on 60.
The visiting side were then in a spot of bother after the quick departures of Emon (17) and No 3 batsman Mahmudul Hasan Joy (three).
Tanzid and middle-order batsman Towhid Hridoy then joined hands and formed a 57-run stand for the third wicket before the former departed for a well-made 80 off 84 balls, featuring a dozen fours.
Then came the most productive Bangladesh partnership of the game in the form of fourth wicket pair Towhid and Shahadat Hossain, who added 102.
Towhid made 51 off 73 deliveries, including two fours, while Shahadat struck seven fours and a six in his 76-ball 74.
The touring side eventually ended on 261 losing five wickets in their stipulated 50 overs.
South Africa’s Pheko Moletsane took two wickets.
In reply, the young Proteas were bundled out for 157 in 42.3 overs, left-arm spinner and player of the match Rakibul Hasan causing the most damage bagging five wickets.
The young Proteas never really got going in the face of some disciplined bowling by the Bangladeshis, not to mention some brilliant ground fielding.
South Africa’s middle-order batsman Luke Beaufort made the highest 60 for his side, off 91 balls, including half a dozen fours, but the next best score was 35 as Bangladesh kept a tight lid on the opposition throughout their innings.
Rakibul, who earlier took a hat-trick against Scotland in the group stage on January 21, led the way with five wickets conceding just 19 runs in 9.3 overs, while right-arm seamer Tanzim Hasan Sakib notched two.