Bangladesh take two-game lead

26 October 2009 | By Rob Barnett

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Anamul Haque's fifty ensured his side comfortably chased down 98 for victory

England Under-19s went 2-0 down in the seven-match one-day series against their Bangladesh counterparts, suffering a seven-wicket defeat in Fatullah.

The tourists were skittled for 97 in 35.4 overs, before opener Anamul Haque’s 56 helped the hosts reach their modest target in 22.1 overs.

Azeem Rafiq’s side must recover immediately with the third contest tomorrow, also at the Khan Shahele Osmani Ali Stadium.

Joe Root and James Vince initially responded well to being put in, making 19 and 21 respectively, but seamer Abul Hasan bowled number three Jos Butler first ball - the first of three England noughts.

Fellow opening bowler Saikat Ali was inspired and blew away the middle order with 3-11 from 10 overs including five maidens. Left-arm spinner Shaker Ahmed, like Abul, claimed two wickets as number 11 Nathan Buck’s 17 was England’s third-highest score.

Left-arm spinner Paul Best, introduced in the seventh over, gave England hope with two cheap wickets but Anamul - England’s nemesis in the one-off Test defeat - stood firm.

Ateeq Javid’s run-out of the right-hander, who struck seven fours and two sixes from 65 deliveries, came too late with 84 on the board.

England team manager John Abrahams said: "This was a very disappointing day in England Under-19s cricket, due mainly to an inept batting performance. The batsmen were responsible for the majority of their own dismissals."