Minto’s Five-for in Vain as Bangladesh U19s Outclass England in Series Opener

Despite a five-wicket haul from James Minto and a fluent 75 from Isaac Mohammed, England Under-19s slumped to an 87-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh Under-19s in the first Youth One-Day International at Loughborough.

Chasing a formidable 293, England looked well-placed at 132 for 2 but crumbled under pressure as Bangladesh’s spinners took control. Samiun Basir Ratul starred with the ball, finishing with a stunning 4 for 9 in just 4.2 overs, as the visitors secured a convincing win to go 1-0 up in the series.

Earlier, Rizan Hossan led Bangladesh’s batting charge with a composed century, scoring 100 off 101 balls. He shared a 148-run fourth-wicket stand with Kalam Aleen (58), recovering from a shaky start that saw the visitors reduced to 69 for 3. Durham’s left-arm seamer Minto was England’s standout performer, claiming 5 for 68, including two wickets in two balls and a final-over double strike.

The visitors' innings closed at 292, with England’s bowlers tightening up in the death overs, conceding just 66 runs in the last 9.2 overs. Hossan was eventually dismissed one ball after reaching his hundred, caught off Nottinghamshire’s Hatton-Lowe.

In reply, England lost early wickets, with Ben Dawkins bowled in the first over and Joe Moores falling to a return catch shortly after. Mohammed and Yorkshire's Will Bennison rebuilt confidently, adding 98 for the third wicket in rapid time. Mohammed reached his half-century in just 34 balls, showcasing power and innovation.

However, once Bennison was bowled by off-spinner Shadin Islam and Mohammed fell for 75, England’s innings unraveled. From 132 for 2, they collapsed to 205 all out. Ratul’s left-arm spin proved decisive, as he removed both captain Thomas Rew and debutant Jack Nelson in quick succession. A run-out and two lower-order wickets sealed England’s fate.

Speaking after the game, Mohammed reflected positively on his own performance despite the result:

“I really enjoyed it, I just felt good out there. I've been training a lot recently and it felt like it paid off today. It’s disappointing not to get the result, but we’ll look to bounce back on Sunday.”

Looking ahead to the next fixture, Mohammed noted the growing influence of the spinners on the used surface:

“At the start it wasn’t doing much, but by the time the spinners came back on, the pitch was gripping. If we’re on the same wicket again, that’s something we’ll definitely look into.”

Mohammed is also preparing for a significant occasion later this month, as his Worcestershire side prepares to face Hampshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final — capping off what has been a breakthrough season for the young batter.

The second Youth ODI between England and Bangladesh takes place on Sunday, where the hosts will look to level the three-match series.