Zawad Abrar played a commanding knock of 96 as Bangladesh Under-19s edged past Afghanistan Under-19s in a tense run chase, winning by three wickets with just one over to spare. Chasing 284, Bangladesh looked in cruise control early before a sudden middle-order wobble turned the contest into a thriller.
Abrar and Rifat Beg laid the perfect foundation with a massive 151-run opening stand, putting Bangladesh firmly in charge. Beg fell for a fluent 62 before Abrar narrowly missed out on a century, dismissed for 96 after dominating the innings. Captain Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki then added 66 for the third wicket, seemingly sealing the game before a late collapse reignited Afghanistan’s hopes.
With four wickets falling in quick succession, the pressure mounted, but Rizan Hossan held his nerve with a brisk unbeaten 17 to guide Bangladesh home in the 49th over. The win was sealed with three wickets still in hand, capping off a dramatic finish.
Earlier, Afghanistan posted a competitive 283 for 7, powered by a brilliant century from Faisal Shinozada. His 103 off 94 balls featured eight fours and four sixes, and included key partnerships with Osman Sadat and Uzairullah Niazai. Late cameos from Azizullah Miakhil and Abdul Aziz added vital runs, but in the end, Abrar’s brilliance ensured Bangladesh had the final say.
