Sri Lanka U19s booked their place in the final of the Youth Asia Cup beating Bangladesh U19s by 26 runs (D/L method) in the rain-interrupted second semi-final worked out at R. Premadasa International Stadium on Wednesday.
Himanshu Rana leads India U19’s to Asia Cup finals
Right-handed opening batsman Himanshu Rana thrashed 130 off 123 balls to help India U19’s reach yet another final in the Youth Asia Cup beating Afghanistan U19’s by 77 runs in the first semi-final played under lights at R.Premadasa International Stadium on Tuesday.
Prince of Wales’ College skipper Vishva Chathuranga made a cracking 77-ball 68 with 7 fours and a six over mid-wicket boundary to lead the Sri Lankan chase when rain washed out the second half of the Lankan innings. At around 8.30pm local time, rain intervened when the hosts were cruising on 106 for 2 in chase of Bangladesh’s below-par 194.
Earlier in the afternoon, Bangladesh skipper Saif Hassen won the toss and opted to bat. The Bangla opening duo of Captain Hassen and Sozib Hosen added 42 before seamer Jehan Daniel’s slower delivery got the better of the former for 26. 
St. Sebastian’s College left-arm spinner, Praveen Jayawickrama bowled a magnificent spell taking 4 for 25 from his 10 overs to completely dismantle the strong Bangladesh middle order. He bowled his first six overs on the trot conceding just 18 runs for one wicket but later came on to take three wickets in space of 24 deliveries for just 7 runs.
Most Bangladesh batsmen got sufficient starts but did not convert them into match-winning knocks as they lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs. Raysan Rafsan top scored with a 58-ball 38 while Afif Hossain made 36 off 57 balls for the boys from Bangladesh.
Jayawickrama was well supported by St. Aloysius’ College left-arm orthodox spinner, Hareen Buddhila who ended up with 3 for 29 as the Bangladesh innings was ended in the penultimate over.
Chasing 195 runs to win under lights, the Lankan opening pair, Cambrian Vishva Chathuranga and Josephian Revan Kelly got the hosts to a steady start as they maneuvered the field excellently against the Bangladeshi spinners adding 74.
Chathuranga reached his fifty with a neat cut shot in the 63rd ball of his innings and in the very next ball his partner, Kelly came down the track and gave an easy catch to mid-on fielder Abdul Halim off Nayeem Hassen for 23. Chathuranga top edged to cover point to give off-spinner Hassen his second wicket but the rain gods prevented any more play to guarantee a safe passage to the final for the island nation.
U19 Youth Asia Cup Sri Lanka 2016 | News, photos, live scores, fixtures, stats – ThePapare.com
U19 Youth Asia Cup Sri Lanka 2016 live cricket scores, latest news, photos, features, statistics, squads and all the updates of the series.
For the first time in the history of U19 Asian Cricket, Sri Lanka qualified for the finals and will take on the defending champions, India U19s in the final scheduled to be played under lights on Friday, 23rd December at the same venue.
Bangladesh U19s – 194 all out in 48.3 overs: Afif Hassen 36, Rayan Rahman 38, Saif Hassen 26, Mohommad Rakib 22, Praveen Jayawickrama 4/25, Hareen Buddhila 3/29.
Sri Lanka U19s – 106/2 in 27.1 overs: Vishva Chathuranga 68, Revan Kelly 23, Nayeem Hasan 2/12.
 in the rain-interrupted second semi-final worked out at R. Premadasa International Stadium on Wednesday.){kind=link}