Shamyl guides Pakistan U19 to T20 victory

RAJSHAHI: Shamyl Hussain’s half-century and Arafat Minhas’ quick-fire 41 guided Pakistan U19 to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh U19 in the solitary T20 match at the Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium here on Wednesday.

The win means Pakistan U19 take the four-day, one-day and T20 series trophies home.

Chasing 160 to win at eight runs an over, the tourists lost player of the one-day series Shahzaib Khan in the first over for nought. Opening batter Shamyl was joined by captain Saad Baig and the pair knitted 41 runs for the second wicket.

After Saad (24) departed in the sixth over, Mohammad Tayyab Arif (16) stitched a 41-run partnership for the third wicket with Shamyl.

When Tayyab fell in the 12th over, Pakistan U19 still required 71 runs to win from 51 balls.

Shamyl was then joined by fellow left-hander Arafat Minhas. The pair added 56 runs for the fourth wicket off just 33 balls. Arafat scored 41 off 22 balls, smashing seven fours and a six.

Shamyl, on the other hand, continued to keep one end intact and brought up his maiden half-century on the tour. He was dismissed on the last ball of the 19^th over, scoring 67 off 49 balls, hitting seven fours and one six.

The tourists chased down the target on the first ball of the final over with four wickets in hand.

For Bangladesh U19, Iqbal Hossain Emon took three wickets for 23 runs.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Bangladesh U19 scored 159 for five in 20 overs. Opening batter Jishan Alam top-scored with a 26-ball 52, which included five fours and four sixes.

For Pakistan U19, Ahmed Hussain bagged two wickets for 25 runs from three overs.

Scores in brief:

Bangladesh U19 159-5, 20 overs (Jishan Alam 52, Ariful Islam 30; Ahmed Hussain 2-25). Pakistan U19 160-6, 19.1 overs (Shamyl Hussain 67, Arafat Minhas 41; Iqbal Hossain Emon 3-23, Rohanat Doullah Borson 2-39).

Result: Pakistan U19 beat Bangladesh U19 by four wickets.

Player of the match: Shamyl Hussain (Pakistan U19)