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Defending champions Bangladesh were given a reality check in their opening encounter of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup 2022 by England as they were thrashed by seven wickets. The encounter turned out to be a one-sided contest at St. Kitts. The defending champions could only manage 97 runs in their innings. In reply, England chased the target down with 24 overs to spare.
Bangladesh made a slow start to their innings before losing their first wicket of Mahfijul Islam in the fifth over. Rakibul Hasan's decision to bat first backfired as they lost wickets too many early wickets and slumped to 26/5 by the 14th over. Bangladesh kept losing wickets thereafter and were tottering at 51/9 by half way mark of the innings.
England produced a lethal bowling attack to bundle out Bangladesh for 97 in the Group A match. Left-arm pacer Joshua Boyden was the pick of the bowlers for England with figures of 16/4, while right-arm fast bowler Thomas Aspinwall scalped two wickets, giving away 18 runs. Besides, Tom Prest (5/1), Fateh Singh (29/1) and James Sales (29/1) took a wicket each.
Bangladesh's struggle from the onset can be gauged from the fact that only four of their batters managed double digit scores, with no.11 Ripon Mondal top-scoring with an unbeaten knock of 33 off 41 deliveries. Mondal hit five boundaries and one six during his innings. Bangladesh's highest partnership of 46 runs was forged by the last-wicket pair of Mondal and Naimur Rohman.
England took their time during the chase as Jacob Bethell top scored with a 63-ball 44. Bethell's patient knock included four boundaries and two sixes. James Rew scored 27 of 39 deliveries to support Bethell, but the latter couldn't hold out as he was victim of poor running between the wickets. For Bangladesh, Mondol and Rakibul picked one wicket each. Bangladesh bowlers bowled tight lines but with just 99 runs to defend, the defending champions didn't stand any chance.
The loss for defending champions means, they occupy the bottom spot while England are at the top of the table in a four-team group A. UAE and Canada are sandwiched in between, as the former won the encounter between the two to sit at second position. England next take on Canada on Tuesday (January 18) while Bangladesh will have the opportunity to bounce back on Thursday (January 20) against UAE.
