Colombo: Bangladesh Under-19 team clinched the six-match youth ODI series against the Sri Lankan youth team with a 3-2 margin as the sixth and final game ended in a washout due to heavy rain at the Colts Cricket Club Ground today. Electing to bat first, Bangladesh posted 188-3 in 39.1 overs before the rain interrupted the proceedings, leading to the abandonment of the match.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the match was a crucial opportunity for Sri Lanka to level the series and avoid defeat. However, Bangladesh’s innings got off to a shaky start when opener Abrar Zawad was dismissed for a duck in the second over. Captain Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki then steadied the innings with a partnership of 65 runs. Hakim further strengthened the innings with a 108-run stand alongside Rizan Hossain for the third wicket.
Hakim narrowly missed scoring a century, being dismissed for 94 runs. His innings was marked by seven fours and two sixes from 111 balls. When the rain intervened, Rizan was on 48, and Md Abdullah was on 5, while Kalam Siddiki contributed 31 runs.
The series began unfavorably for Bangladesh with a 98-run loss in the first match. However, they turned the series around by winning three consecutive matches. Sri Lanka managed to claim victory in the fifth match, creating a possibility of a series draw, yet the weather had the final say, sealing the series in Bangladesh’s favor.