UNB, Dhaka
In a gripping encounter at the ICC Academy Ground No. 2, Bangladesh Under-19s secured a victory over their Indian counterparts in the 2nd Semi-Final of the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup.
The clash, brimming with twists and turns, culminated in a four-wicket win for Bangladesh Under-19s, chasing down India Under-19s’ total of 188 with 43 balls to spare.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Bangladesh’s decision seemed vindicated early on as their bowlers, led by Maruf Mridha’s clinical spell (4/41), went through the Indian top order. Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, and Uday Saharan fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 13/3 in the 6th over.
However, the resilient batting displayed by Musheer Khan (50) and Murugan Abhishek (62) steadied the ship, guiding India to a competitive total of 188. Despite facing some challenges, India’s tailenders contributed valuable runs, with Raj Limbani (11*) and Naman Tiwari (6) pushing the score to 188 for all wickets.
Bangladesh Under-19s encountered early setbacks in pursuit of the target, losing key wickets during the powerplay. Raj Limbani (2/47) and Naman Tiwari (3/35) applied pressure with crucial breakthroughs, but Ariful Islam emerged as the linchpin for Bangladesh. His scintillating knock of 94 runs off 90 balls, supported by Ahrar Amin’s contribution of 44, propelled Bangladesh towards victory.
Despite a late surge from the Indian bowlers, with Saumy Pandey and Arshin Kulkarni keeping the contest alive, Bangladesh managed to cross the finish line with Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby (3*) and Sheikh Paevez Jibon (2*) steering them to a win that guided them to the final of this year’s Asia Cup.
In the final, Bangladesh will take on the hosts, the UAE, on December 17th. The UAE beat Pakistan in the other semifinal by 11 runs on the same day.