Pakistan U19's spin duo Ali Asfand and Arafat Minhas shared seven wickets between them to help their team win solitary four-day match against Bangladesh U19 on Wednesday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.
On the final day, the green caps chased down 22 runs easily to register 10-wicket victory. Ali and Arafat helped Pakistan bowl out Bangladesh for 292.
While resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 166 for three in 70 overs, Bangladesh U19 lost night-watchman Akanto Sheikh (10, 34b) in the 81st over with Mohammad Ismail uprooting the stumps. Captain Sharear Sakib who returned undefeated on 47 the previous day, was joined by Zakaria Islam and the pair added 60 runs for the sixth wicket before Zakaria (23, 51b, 3x4s) was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Ali Asfand in the 99th over.
Just before rain arrived, the Bangladesh skipper completed his hundred. After the rain interval, well-settled Sharear was adjudged leg-before wicket to Ali for 106 runs off 235 deliveries, hitting 14 boundaries.
After the departure of Sharear with Bangladesh still trailing by nine runs and four wickets in hand, the Pakistan spinners Ali and Arafat Minhas never allowed Bangladesh to score freely and the hosts were dismissed for 292 in the 126th over with a lead of 21.
Left-arm spinner Arafat bagged the last two wickets to fall and ended up with figures of three for 49. Ali took four wickets for 66 runs and ended up with match figures of six for 103 runs.
First-innings centurion Shahzaib Khan was named player of the match for his knock of 174 off 323 deliveries.
Both sides will now compete in the white-ball series, which consists of five one-day matches and one T20. The one-day series will begin from 6 May.
- Input from PCB press release