Dhaka – Bangladesh Under-23 team made a flying start in the eight-nation Emerging Teams Asia Cup Cricket outplaying Hong Kong by eight wickets at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox’s Bazar on Monday.Batting first, Hong Kong were all out for 125 runs in 35.1 overs with Babar Hayat making 37, Nizakat Khan 27, Ehsan Khan 17 and C Carter 15 runs.National top order batsman cum Under-23 team captain Mominul Haque and national all rounder Nasir Hossain grabbed three wickets each conceding 11 and 18 runs respectively.UNB agencyIn reply, hosts Bangladesh team faced no trouble to reach their target scoring match-winner 126 runs for 2 in just 16.1 overs.Opener Saif Hasan contributing an unconquered 57 runs off 47 balls featuring nine fours and a six and was adjudged man of the match. Besides, Nazmul Hossain Shanta (not out 24), captain Mominul Haque (21) and Azmir Ahmed (15) were the other major contributors for Bangladesh.Ehsan Khan took two wickets for 48 runs.Bangladesh, which was placed in Group B of the Asian meet along with Pakistan, Nepal and Hong Kong, will play Nepal on Tuesday (Mar 28) and will face Pakistan on Thursday (Mar 30) at the same venue In the day’s other matches, India beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.Sent into bat first, India piled up a comfortable 288 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs.Two down batsman B Aparajith made a century scoring just 100 runs off 91 balls with six fours and three sixes to be adjudged man of the match.In reply, Sri Lanka were all out for 253 runs in 48.2 overs In the day’s other match at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, Afghanistan outplayed Malaysia by 155 runs.Batting first, Afghanistan scored 284 for 7 in quota 50 overs with one down Ihsanullah making a ton scoring 108 runs off 107 balls with 10 fours and two sixes to be adjudged man of the match.In reply, Malaysia were bundled out for 129 runs in 45.5 overs.
