Bangladesh Under-19 team moved to the semifinal of the ACC Asia Cup after beating Nepal by five wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE today [1 December].

This was Bangladesh’s second straight victory, having beaten Afghanistan by 45 runs in the first match.

After losing to Bangladesh, Afghanistan also tasted a 131-run defeat to Sri Lanka, which eventually ensured the semifinal berth of the Sri Lanka too, alongside Bangladesh.

The Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh match on Tuesday now will just determine that who will become the group champions.

Bangladesh’s victory looked imminent when they bowled out Nepal for just 141 in 45.4 overs. But the junior Tigers faced hiccup on the way, before reaching the target in 28.4 overs, thanks to an unwavering resolve of captain Azizul Hakim Tamim.

Opener Zawad Abrar made team-best 59 while Tamim who hit a century against Afghanistan continued his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 52. Thanks to their half-centuries, Bangladesh avoided a potential upset as the other batters failed to come with terms.

The third-best was 13 which came from the willow of Farid Hasan. All other batters were dismissed in single-digit figure.

Bangladesh lost opener Kalam Siddiki for duck before Abrar and Tamim combined for a 90-run partnership for the second wicket. Despite Abrar’s dismissal, Bangladesh looked to chase down the target with ease.

But thereafter they experienced a mini collapse but Tamim steered the side through the torrid period and sailed the team home.

Yuvraj Khatri snapped up 4-23 for Nepal to wreck havoc on Bangladesh’s middle order.

Al Fahad, Iqbal Hossain Emon and Rizan Hasan scalped two wickets apiece to rip through Nepal, after Bangladesh asked them to bat first.

Opener Akash Tripathi was the highest scorer with 43 while Uttam Magar and Abhishek Tiwari made identical 29.