The final of the Zimbabwe U19 tri-nation series between Bangladesh U19 and South Africa U19 in Harare saw a spirited fightback from the young Tigers after a shaky start.
Batting first, Bangladesh found themselves under early pressure at 65 for 3. The South African bowlers looked in control until Rizan Hossan and Kalam Siddiqi stepped up with a superb partnership that changed the course of the innings. The two put on 117 runs for the fourth wicket, taking the game away from the opponents.
Rizan, the all-rounder who has been in fine batting form throughout the series, once again proved his value. He played a fluent knock of 95 off 96 balls, striking the ball all around the ground. His innings ended in disappointment as he was given out in a controversial run-out that left the Bangladesh camp unhappy.
Before his dismissal, Kalam Siddiqi had already set the tone with a solid 65 off 75 deliveries. His controlled batting in the middle overs gave the team the stability they needed after the early setbacks.
Thanks to their efforts, Bangladesh posted a competitive total of 269 for 5 in their full 50 overs. The score gives them a strong platform in the final, with the bowlers now tasked with defending it against a talented South Africa U19 batting line-up.
The performance from Rizan and Kalam will be remembered as a key moment in the match, and Bangladesh will hope it leads them to lifting the tri-nation series trophy.