Dhaka: Bangladesh Under-19 team got off to flying start in the eight-nation Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup outplaying Afghanistan Under-19 by four-wicket with 41 balls remaining in a Group-A match at Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara, Sri Lanka on Thursday. 

Chasing a target of 147, the Young Tigers reached their destination scoring 150 for 6 in 43.1 overs, spurred by the captain-cum-opener Saif Hassan’s half century of 67 runs. 

Mohammad Abdul Karim hammered one boundary off Tariq Stanikzai to draw the winning-line reaching 150 from 146 runs. 

Besides his individual performance, Saif stayed with Rayan Rafsan Rahman in the 4th wicket for a partnership figure of 74 in 19 overs to carry the team total to 142/4 in 40.3 overs from 68/3 in 21.3 overs. 

Saif featured 10 boundaries off 129 balls and was caught by Ikram Faizi off Zahir Khan bowling to depart from 4th pair. 

Rayan Rafsan Rahman hit the only over boundary in the match on his way to 32off 54 balls, involving four boundaries, and was caught by Naveen-ul-Haq off Tariq Stanikzai’s bowling when the team collection was at 142/5 in 41.1 overs. 

Afif Hossain scored run-a-ball 19, including four boundaries, while Mahidul Islam Ankon added 12 runs. 

Zahir Khan bagged two wickets for 21 runs in nine overs while Tariq Stanikzai, Yousuf Zazai, Mujeeb and Naveen-ul-Haq took one wicket each for 19, 21, 22 and 26 runs respectively for the Afghan. 

Sent in to bat first, Afghans were restricted at 146 for all in 48.3 overs. 

Nisar Wahdat top-scored 32 off 66 balls, including a boundary, while skipper Naveen-ul-Haq scored 27 off 44 balls including two boundaries. 

Parwiz scored 23 off 65 balls while Tariq Stanikzai and Naveed Obaid added 16 and 14 runs respectively. 

Qazi Onik and Mukidul Islam opened their pace wizards to grab four-for 22 and three-for 29 wickets haul respectively to shiver the Afghans batting line. 

Onik and Mukidul delivered eight and 6.3 overs for their wickets haul while Nayeem Hasan and Mohammad Sozib Hosen took one wicket each.

Bangladesh will play their next match against Singapore at Galle International Stadium on Friday.