Match Preview | M#18 | Bangladesh v USA | BAN v USA | U19WC


Written By: Ritwika Dhar
Date: 18-01-2023

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens

Bangladesh and USA will lock horns in their final group game. Bangladesh right now is sitting at the top of Group A with two quality wins against Australia and Sri Lanka. On the other hand, USA will be playing for pride.
 
VENUE – Willowmoore Park B, Benoni | TIME – 10:00 LOCAL/13:30 IST

Bangladesh played their last encounter against Sri Lanka at this ground. It was a high-scoring match and the pitch is expected to be a good one to bat on in this game as well. If USA’s pacers don’t utilize the early movement, it will be very challenging for them to get rid of Bangladesh’s big guns later in the innings. 

BANGLADESH: This Bangladesh team is exhibiting their potential in some style in this competition. Their solid top-order and brilliant pace-bowling have been the main reasons for their success. Subcontinental teams are known for quality spinners. Bangladesh's senior team too is blessed with legends like Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed. But in this U-19 WC so far, not many Bangladeshi spinners' names have featured in the wickets column.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR -

Afia Anam Prottasha: Prottasha's batting ability is one of a kind if you consider Bangladesh's senior team's batting performance. Her ball-striking ability is something that can easily promote her from the U-19s to the national team for the T20 World Cup next month. She showed a hint of her power game against Australia and in the Sri Lanka encounter, she showcased a complete performance. She smashed 53 off 43 including 5 fours and 3 huge sixes. She will be crucial to Bangladesh getting a fast start in the powerplay.  
 
Shorna Akter: The vice-captain has been Bangladesh's most important batter in this tournament so far. She played an important hand of 23 in the opener against the Aussies and scored a rapid fifty vs Sri Lanka. She tonked 50 off just 28 deliveries. She struck at almost 180 in that innings against a quality attack, which naturally makes her a batter to watch out for in this tournament. 
 
Marufa Akter: Marufa has lived up to her reputation with the ball in this U-19 World Cup so far after dismissing batters like Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu, and Georgia Plimmer in her short but impactful international career. She scalped 2 for 19 (4) against Sri Lanka, including the dangerous Dewmi Vihanga for 55 (44) and helped Bangladesh secure a 10-run win. She is the highest wicket-taker so far for the Tigresses with 4 wickets. Her ability to take wickets in both the powerplay as well as the death overs makes her an asset for any team she plays for.

USA: Their batting has disappointed in both of their previous games. USA could only score 96 against Sri Lanka and were bundled out for 64 by the Australian bowlers.  But it's a great learning curve for the USA players as they don't often get to play against Full Member nations. And on top of that, USA are the only Associate team in Group A. It will be hard for USA to overcome the Bangla challenge, but they must be looking to get better in all departments in their last group game.  
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR -

Snigdha Paul: Snigdha Paul offers variety to the batting lineup being a left-handed batter. She has a sound technique and plays the spinners quite well. She takes the new ball as well and has been the lone USA bowler to take a wicket in both their WC games. She was the only saving grace against Australia, with bat and ball. She top-scored with 17 (24) and picked up the only Australian wicket of Paris Bowdler. 

Bhumika Bhadriraju: The right-arm off-spinner operates in the middle-overs. She generates a decent amount of turn and often deceives the batters with her trickery. Her best outing with the ball was against Sri Lanka, where she ended with figures of 2 for 17 in 4 overs.
 
Ritu Singh: Ritu Singh top-scored against Sri Lanka with her handy batting (22 off 23). With the ball, she is not an easy pacer to face. She generally bowls in the later half of the innings and will have a role to play against the explosive Bangladeshi middle-order bats Shorna Akter and Dilara Akter.  
       


Match Preview | M#18 | Bangladesh v USA | BAN v USA | U19WC


Written By: Ritwika Dhar
Date: 18-01-2023

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens

Bangladesh and USA will lock horns in their final group game. Bangladesh right now is sitting at the top of Group A with two quality wins against Australia and Sri Lanka. On the other hand, USA will be playing for pride.
 
VENUE – Willowmoore Park B, Benoni | TIME – 10:00 LOCAL/13:30 IST

Bangladesh played their last encounter against Sri Lanka at this ground. It was a high-scoring match and the pitch is expected to be a good one to bat on in this game as well. If USA’s pacers don’t utilize the early movement, it will be very challenging for them to get rid of Bangladesh’s big guns later in the innings. 

BANGLADESH: This Bangladesh team is exhibiting their potential in some style in this competition. Their solid top-order and brilliant pace-bowling have been the main reasons for their success. Subcontinental teams are known for quality spinners. Bangladesh's senior team too is blessed with legends like Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed. But in this U-19 WC so far, not many Bangladeshi spinners' names have featured in the wickets column.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR -

Afia Anam Prottasha: Prottasha's batting ability is one of a kind if you consider Bangladesh's senior team's batting performance. Her ball-striking ability is something that can easily promote her from the U-19s to the national team for the T20 World Cup next month. She showed a hint of her power game against Australia and in the Sri Lanka encounter, she showcased a complete performance. She smashed 53 off 43 including 5 fours and 3 huge sixes. She will be crucial to Bangladesh getting a fast start in the powerplay.  
 
Shorna Akter: The vice-captain has been Bangladesh's most important batter in this tournament so far. She played an important hand of 23 in the opener against the Aussies and scored a rapid fifty vs Sri Lanka. She tonked 50 off just 28 deliveries. She struck at almost 180 in that innings against a quality attack, which naturally makes her a batter to watch out for in this tournament. 
 
Marufa Akter: Marufa has lived up to her reputation with the ball in this U-19 World Cup so far after dismissing batters like Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu, and Georgia Plimmer in her short but impactful international career. She scalped 2 for 19 (4) against Sri Lanka, including the dangerous Dewmi Vihanga for 55 (44) and helped Bangladesh secure a 10-run win. She is the highest wicket-taker so far for the Tigresses with 4 wickets. Her ability to take wickets in both the powerplay as well as the death overs makes her an asset for any team she plays for.

USA: Their batting has disappointed in both of their previous games. USA could only score 96 against Sri Lanka and were bundled out for 64 by the Australian bowlers.  But it's a great learning curve for the USA players as they don't often get to play against Full Member nations. And on top of that, USA are the only Associate team in Group A. It will be hard for USA to overcome the Bangla challenge, but they must be looking to get better in all departments in their last group game.  
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR -

Snigdha Paul: Snigdha Paul offers variety to the batting lineup being a left-handed batter. She has a sound technique and plays the spinners quite well. She takes the new ball as well and has been the lone USA bowler to take a wicket in both their WC games. She was the only saving grace against Australia, with bat and ball. She top-scored with 17 (24) and picked up the only Australian wicket of Paris Bowdler. 

Bhumika Bhadriraju: The right-arm off-spinner operates in the middle-overs. She generates a decent amount of turn and often deceives the batters with her trickery. Her best outing with the ball was against Sri Lanka, where she ended with figures of 2 for 17 in 4 overs.
 
Ritu Singh: Ritu Singh top-scored against Sri Lanka with her handy batting (22 off 23). With the ball, she is not an easy pacer to face. She generally bowls in the later half of the innings and will have a role to play against the explosive Bangladeshi middle-order bats Shorna Akter and Dilara Akter.