LAHORE: Ali Asfand’s all-round performance and fine bowling by leg-spinner Arafat Minhas inspired Pakistan U-19 to a thumping 10-wicket victory against their Bang­ladesh counterparts on the rain-affected final day of the one-off four-day match at the Zahur Ahmed Chow­dhury Stad­ium in Chitta­gong on Wednesday.

Needing just 22 runs to win the match after Ali (4-66) and Arafat (3-49) dismissed Bangladesh for 292 in their second innings, first-innings centurion Shahzaib Khan (19 not out) and Azan Awais (4 not out) romped home.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Sharear Sakib, who resumed the day at 47, remained the main hurdle in Pakistan’s march tow­ards victory as he smashed a fighting century. His 106 came off 235 balls during a 330-minute stay and featured 14 boundaries.

Once Sharear was adju­dged lbw by Ali, Bangla­desh, who conceded a huge 271-run lead on the first innings, were nine runs away from avoiding an innings defeat. In response to the hosts’ paltry 149 in their first innings, Pakistan had posted a huge 420.

Ali, who also clean bowled Zakaria Islam Shanto (23) earlier, clai­med back-to-back wickets cleaning up Shiam Hos­sain Dipu (6) and Pervez Rahman (8) as Bangladesh slid to 276-8.

Later, Arafat clean bow­led Mahfuzur Rah­man Rab­by (15) and trapped Iqbal Hossain (1) in front as Bangladesh ended their second inn­ings at 292, giving Pak­istan a scanty target.

Pakistan batter Sha­hz­aib Khan was named player-of-the-mat­ch for his magnificent 174-run knock.

Both sides now compete in a white-ball series comprising five one-day mat­ches and one-off T20. The one-day series begins on May 6.

Summarised scores:

BANGLADESH U-19 149 in 59 overs (Sheikh Parvaiz Jibon 56, Sharear Sakib 48; Amir Hassan 4-29, Mohammad Ismail 3-41, Ali Asfand 2-37) and 292 in 125.1 overs (Sharear Sakib 106, Ashikur Rahman Shibli 79; Ali Asfand 4-66, Arafat Minhas 3-49, Mohammad Ismail 2-68).

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2023