Bangladesh Under-19 rout Namibia to become group champions

Bangladesh Under-19 have trounced Namibia by eight wickets and taken the top spot in Group A in the Youth World Cup.

The hosts will take on Nepal in the quarter-finals while Namibia will face India in the last eight.

Electing to field, Bangladesh skittled out the Namibians for a paltry 65 in 32.5 overs at Cox's Bazar's Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Bangladesh skipper Mehedi Hasan Miraz went past Pakistan's Imad Wasim to become the top wicket-taker in the age group with 74 wickets.

Having lost both their openers early on, Bangladesh cruised to the target in 16 overs.

Namibia outplayed Scotland and holders South Africa in their first two matches to come into the third match as a threat for Bangladesh.

But Bangladesh spinners put the batsmen to sword while some brilliant catching and ground fielding from the hosts compounded the Namibia's woes.

Pacers Abdul Halim and Mohammad Saifuddin struggled to find the right areas to bowl in the morning but the latter got the first breakthrough early on through Nazmul Hossain Shanto's spectacular catch at gully.

After a superb throw from wicketkeeper Zakir Hasan caught Zane Green (0) short of the crease, the spinners joined the act.

Skipper Miraz, who started the match with 72 wickets, trapped Michael van Lingen (4) in front to match Wasim's record. Miraz took out tailender Warren van Wyk for the record-breaking wicket - the last to fall for Namibia.

Namibia lost their last six wickets for just 14 runs as Saleh Ahmed Shawon and Ariful Islam took two wickets each while Saeed Sarkar chipped in with one.

Niko Davin (19) and Lohan Louwrens (17), who shared the only double-digit partnership (27) for Namibia, were also the only batsmen for them go past single-digit scores.

The total was the second lowest in Youth ODIs. Namibia also hold the record for the lowest total (57) in Under-19 matches.

Bangladesh opener Pinak Ghosh yet again disappointed when he walked back in the first over for a duck. His partner Saif Hassan (8) soon followed him back to the hutch.

Joyraz Sheikh (34) and Shanto (14) then sauntered off to the target with a 53 run partnership and sealed Bangladesh's third successive win.