The Bangladesh U-23 team penned a remarkable story of revenge on the cricket field. After an unexpected loss to the U-19 team in their first encounter in the GD Trophy, the 'elder brothers' secured a dominant victory in their second face-off. This massive win puts the U-23 team a step closer to the tournament final, injecting new confidence into their sails. In the match held at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Saturday, September 5, 2026, the U-23 team defeated the U-19 team by a large margin of nine wickets.
Winning the toss, the Bangladesh U-19 team opted to bat first. They were all out for 189 runs before completing their stipulated 50 overs. In reply, the U-23 team reached the target losing just 1 wicket, with 111 balls to spare. Opener Azizul Hakim Tamim won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant batting, scoring 76 runs in this game. His responsible and aggressive innings played a crucial role in the team's victory.
Chasing a target of 189 runs, openers Adil Bin Siddique and Azizul Hakim Tamim provided a flying start for the Bangladesh U-23 team. Their fluent batting left the U-19 bowlers bewildered from the start. This opening pair built a massive 130-run partnership for the first wicket, laying the foundation for the win. Adil Bin Siddique returned to the pavilion after a patient innings of 63 runs off 74 balls, which included several delightful shots.
Following Adil's departure, Kalam Siddique Olin came to the crease. He, along with Azizul Hakim Tamim, completed the rest of the task. Tamim remained unbeaten on 74 runs off 79 balls, his innings showcasing both necessary aggression and discretion. Olin, on the other hand, remained unbeaten on 39 runs off 40 balls, helping to quickly secure the team's victory. The solidity of this partnership ensured the U-23 team clinched an easy victory without any pressure.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat, the U-19 team had a decent start. The opening pair of Zarif Siam and Kawsar Ahmed added 65 runs to the scoreboard. However, this partnership broke in the 17th over when Kawsar was dismissed LBW by Swadhin. Zarif then formed another 33-run partnership with Ahsan Al Mumin. After scoring 99 runs in the first match, Zarif proved his consistent form by hitting another half-century in this game. He was out after scoring 56 runs off 71 balls, an innings that included five fours and one six.
Following Zarif's departure, the U-19 team's batting lineup collapsed. Rakibul Hasan, Farid Hasan Faysal, and Rakib Khan quickly returned to the pavilion, leaving them five wickets down for just 127 runs. The U-19 team then looked towards Mumin, who was set at the crease. But Mumin also departed, leaving his team in trouble. His innings of 35 runs off 45 balls included one six, but he couldn't guide the team towards a big total.
Towards the end, some crucial runs from Shakil Khan and Mehrab Hasan Sijan brought the team's total close to two hundred. Shakil scored 15 runs, while Mehrab Hasan Sijan remained unbeaten on 33 runs off 36 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. For the U-23 team, pacer Mohiuddin Tarek took 2 wickets for 36 runs, preventing the opposition from setting a large score, which paved the way for their victory. This victory has almost certainly secured the U-23 team's participation in the GD Trophy final.
