Rizan Hossan’s brisk 100 set up an 87-run victory for Bangladesh Under-19s over England Under-19s in the first Youth ODI at Loughborough, despite a five-wicket burst from Durham left-armer James Minto and a fluent 75 from Isaac Mohammed.
Bangladesh posted 292 all out after being sent in, then rolled England for 205, spinner Samiun Basir Ratul ripping out the lower order with 4 for 9. The visitors lead the three-match series 1–0.
Early exchanges
Zawad Abrar and Rifat Beg raced to 31 without loss inside five overs, attacking Minto’s opening spell with two pick-up sixes over fine leg. The tempo dipped when Alex Green struck with his first delivery, Beg’s leg stump brushed for 25. Matthew Firbank removed skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim for 11 and Minto had Abrar glove down the leg-side soon after: 69 for three and England seemingly on top.
The decisive stand
Hossan then joined Kalam Aleen and the pair added 148 in 25 overs. Hossan reached fifty in 58 balls, clipping and lofting anything straight; Aleen’s half-century came from 68, strong sweeps his hallmark. “We just tried to keep the scoreboard moving and wait for the loose ball,” Hossan said. “It was good, simple batting.”
Minto’s second spell halted the surge, Aleen lbw for 66 and Mohammad Abdullah caught behind next ball. Hossan pushed to three figures from 100 deliveries but fell immediately, skying George Hatton-Lowe to deep mid-wicket. Tight death bowling – slower balls and yorkers into the pitch – limited Bangladesh to 66 from the last 56 balls. Minto closed the innings with two wickets in two balls, finishing with 5 for 68. “He showed great skill at the back end,” Young Lions bowling coach Simon Cook observed.
England’s reply
The target of 293 wobbled immediately when Ben Dawkins lost his off stump to Fahad Hossain’s inswinger first up. Joe Moores flicked Tamim tamely to mid-wicket for 14 but Mohammed and Will Bennison counter-attacked, taking England to 129 for two at drinks. Mohammed’s half-century needed only 34 balls, highlighted by a ramped six off fast bowler Asif Hasan.
Shadin Islam’s off-spin changed the mood. Bennison was bowled through the gate for 36, then Mohammed clipped a gentle off-break to cover, ending a lively 75 from 63 balls. From 132 for two, England slumped to 161 for seven as Ratul turned the screw, drifting the ball into the pads then ripping it past the outside edge. “We talked about bowling straight and staying patient,” Ratul said. “The pitch offered just enough.”
Skipper Thomas Rew and debutant Jack Nelson resisted briefly, nudging the asking rate down, but when Rew edged behind for 22 the chase fizzled out. Ratul picked up the last two wickets in consecutive balls, England dismissed in 38.2 overs.
Coaches’ view
“We were in control twice and let it slip twice,” admitted Young Lions head coach Mike Yardy. “Those middle-overs collapses hurt us – credit to their spinners, they bowled with excellent discipline.”
Bangladesh coach Talha Jubair was quick to temper celebrations. “One win is nice, but series wins are what matter,” he noted. “We must improve our fielding before the next game.”
Analysis
England will feel they conceded 30-40 runs too many after having Bangladesh 217 for five, yet the decisive factor was how effectively Bangladesh’s slow bowlers exploited what remained of a used pitch. Ratul, Islam and the left-arm Farhad accounted for eight wickets between them, varying pace and angle while rarely straying from a stump-to-stump line. England’s batters, set a demanding run-rate, could not settle into risk-free rotation; the middle order fell trying to manufacture boundaries against the turn.
Positives for the hosts include Minto’s control at both ends of the innings and Mohammed’s assertiveness up top, but they will need a sturdier platform in the second match if they are to level the series.
Match summary
Bangladesh U19 292 all out (50 overs): Hossan 100, Aleen 66; Minto 5-68
England U19 205 all out (38.2 overs): Mohammed 75, Bennison 36; Ratul 4-9, Islam 2-45
Bangladesh U19 won by 87 runs; lead three-match series 1–0.
The sides meet again at the same venue on Sunday.
