In a thrilling encounter at Shaheed Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, Bangladesh Under-19 team secured a hard-fought series victory against South Africa, winning the five-match youth One Day International series 3-2. The final match on Monday witnessed a nerve-wracking finish as Bangladesh emerged victorious by three wickets.

The series started with South Africa claiming a 10-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the first match. However, Bangladesh swiftly bounced back, leveling the series with a 14-run victory in the second game. South Africa once again gained the upper hand, winning the third match by four wickets through the DLS method.

With their backs against the wall, Bangladesh displayed unwavering resolve, knowing they needed to win both the fourth and fifth matches to secure the series. They did exactly that, leveling the series with a four-wicket triumph in the fourth game.

The series reached its climax in the fifth and final match, featuring yet another nail-biting finish. Opting to bat first, South Africa’s young talents were bowled out for 210, with David Teeger top-scoring with 63. Captain Juan James contributed 32 runs to the team’s total.

Bangladesh’s Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby proved to be the star with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 43 runs, dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup. Rohanat Doullah Barshan, Rizan Hossain, and captain Rafi Uzzaman Rafi each chipped in with two wickets.

In the chase, Ariful Islam’s impressive knock of 68 and opener Adil Bin Siddik’s well-played 58 laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s victory. The duo combined for an 87-run partnership for the third wicket after an early setback at 48/2. This crucial partnership brought Bangladesh closer to the target, although South Africa fought back by taking quick wickets.

Despite the tense situation, Bangladesh held their nerve, with captain Rafi Uzzaman Rafi remaining unbeaten on 15 to guide the team to victory. Bangladesh eventually reached the winning target of 211/7 in 47.1 overs, securing a memorable series triumph.