Tafiul wrecks U-23 with devastating six-wicket haul in GD Trophy final

Dhaka, 9 Sept - Bangladesh Under-19 Tafiul Alam Tamim demonstrated a stellar performance the GD Trophy final, claiming six wickets as Bangladesh Under-23 were bowled out for 245 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

The right-arm pacer returned figures of 6-36 from 8.4 overs, spearheading the U-19 attack in the final.

The U-23 side, after winning the toss and electing to bat, initially looked to rebuild after losing Adil Bin Siddique to Sheikh Atiqur Rahman Akash. Azizul Hakim Tamim and Kalam Siddique Eleen then attempted to steady the innings.

Introduced in the 13th over, Tafiul quickly changed the course of the innings. Hakim, who made 15 off 29 balls, was caught attempting a big shot, before Tafiul dismissed Rizan Hossain with the following delivery.

The pacer had to wait for his next breakthrough but returned in the 43rd over to break an 86-run partnership between Debashish Sarkar and Ahrar Amin Pean, dismissing the latter.

Tafiul struck again with the first ball of his next over, removing Debashish for 43 off 41 balls, with Farhan Sadiq taking an excellent catch.

He completed his five-wicket haul in the following over by bowling Sheikh Parvez Jiban, before returning in the final over to dismiss Sadhin Islam, wrapping up the U-23 innings with two deliveries remaining.

Tamim's six-wicket haul was complemented by Akash, who finished with 3-40, as the U-19 bowlers kept the U-23 batting lineup under sustained pressure.BSS