Bangladesh make history

Bangladesh made history by qualifying for the Super league stage of the Under 19 World Cup for the first time, and they were joined by Australia and India on the fourth day of the tournament in Sri Lanka but Scotland must be content with a place in the plate competition.

India blasted past Scotland by eight wickets after Abu Nechim Ahmed took 4-25 to bowl Scotland out for 112 in Group C.

Scotland had slumped to 49 for 6 after being asked to bat but eventually reached 112 largely due to late runs from Scott MacLennan 25 and Aamir Mehmood 32no.

India needed only 19 overs to reach the winning target with Cheteshwar Pujara 47no and the captain, Ravikant Shukla 45 scoring at over six runs an over.

Bangladesh got past defending champions Pakistan by four-wickets and Mushfiqur Rahim’s side went to the top of Group A with four points, and the win was founded on superb spin bowling by their quartet of slow left-armers.

They were led by Sakib Al Hasan, whose 4-34 derailed the Pakistan top-order and started the slide from 66-0 to 170 all out.

The other left-arm spinners - Nabil Samad Chowdhury 1-30, Md. Sohrawardi 2-26 and Mehrab Hossain 2-19 – also enjoyed success and between them the quartet tied the Pakistan batsmen in knots.

Nasir Jamshaid 37 and Ali Khan 20 added 66 in brisk time for the first wicket and they took full toll of Bangladesh’s opening bowlers Dollar Mahmud and Kazi Kamrul Islam but the introduction of spin saw the whole picture change.

Bangladesh then only needed 34.5 overs to reach victory for the loss of six wickets with captain Mushfiqur hitting 46.

Australia made it through to the Super League after a thrilling 13-run win against the West Indies.

Chasing 252 for victory, the West Indies’ last wicket pair of Javon Searles and Rishi Bachan edged their side into contention by adding 21 runs before a run-out from the last ball of the 48th over ended their interest.

The West Indies reached 192-3 at one stage but the build-up of pressure as the finish line approached, combined with fine bowling, saw them stutter.

Moises Henriques took 3-32 and Simon Keen 2-44 for the Aussies but Man of the match Usman Khawaja set-up Australia`s victory with 78 from 110 balls.

Group A, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Colombo, Bangladesh v Pakistan. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field.

Pakistan 170 (43.1 overs); Bangladesh 171-6 (34.5 overs). Bangladesh won by four wickets

Group B, Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, Australia v West Indies. Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

Australia 251 (47.5 overs, U.Khawaja 77); West Indies 238 (48 overs, J.Mohammad 57). Australia won by 13 runs.

Group C, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, India v Scotland. India won the toss and elected to field.

Scotland 112 (39.4 overs); India 115-2 (19 overs)