Iraq opened the first ever Asia Volleyball Challenge Cup with a narrow win over Bangladesh in a thrilling five setter at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.
Iraq won by three sets to two with the game going down to the wire when Bangladesh offered stiff challenge all the way. The final scores were 20-25, 25-18, 25-17, 21-25, 15-9. Bangladesh took control of the first set to take the lead 1-0, but Iraqis came back strongly in the following set to equalize. Bangladesh went on to win the third set to make it interesting.
Bangladeshis’ entered the arena for the fourth set and made a superlative come back to take the set 25-21. With both teams on equal terms the game had to go the full distance, but the fifth set was won by Iraqis 15-9. The match lasted 2 hours and 5 minutes.