Defending champions, India U19s maintained their unbeaten record crushing the hosts, Sri Lanka U19s by 6 wickets in their Youth Asia Cup 2016 Group A match worked out at Tyronne Stadium in Moratuwa today.
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Right-handed Shubman Gill anchored the Indian chase with a fine 79-ball 78 which included 10 fours and a six as the neighbouring cricketing giant reached their target of 208 just inside 40 overs to get a bonus point win. Jehan Daniel who made a cracking half-century for the home team removed the in-form opening batsman from Haryana, Himanshu Rana for a duck in the second over to derail the chase.
Prithvi Shaw and Gill continued to punish the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground before right-arm seamer from Matara, Thilan Prashan sent the former back to the pavilion for a well-compiled 36 off 35. The visitors were never hassled in their chase as Gill was then joined by Captain Abhishek Sharma to add 86 runs.
Read More : Chathuranga, Mendis and Bandara steer Sri Lanka U19s to semi-finals
Both Gill and Sharma were undone by the left-arm spin of Praveen Jayawickrama but Priyam Garg and Salman Khan consolidated the run chase with an unbroken 47-run stand.
Earlier after opting to bat first, the Lankan openers, Revan Kelly and Vishva Chathuranga got their team off to a blazing start as they scored runs freely off the Indian seamers before the latter was clean bowled by spinner, Shiva Singh for a quick-fire 30-ball 44.
After being 58 for no loss, the home team middle order collapsed dramatically to their next seven wickets for just 57 runs. Four single digit scores in the middle order by Hasitha Boyagoda, Lasith Crosspulle, Ashen Bandara and Ravindu Sanjana swung the pendulum towards the Indians as Yash Thakuar, skipper Abhishek Sharma and Shiva Singh shared 8 wickets.
The Josephian opening batsman, Revan Kelly made a 47-ball 27 at the top of the order but his school mate, Jehan Daniel was the star for the young Lankan outfit steering the tail end to take the Lankan score over the 200-run mark. Right-handed Daniel struck 67 off 90 deliveries with 5 fours and a six as the last three wickets accumulated 82 runs for Sri Lanka U19s as they were bowled out for a below par 207 in 48.5 overs.
Despite the result, both teams qualified for the semi-finals which will be played under lights on 20th and 21st of December at R.Premadasa International Stadium.
Sri Lanka U19 – 207 all out in 48.5 overs: Revan Kelly 27, Vishva Chathuranga 44, Jehan Daniel 67, Shiva Singh 3/32, Yash Thakur 3/38, Abhishek Sharma 2/32.
India U19 – 208/4 in 39.5 overs: Prithvi Shaw 36, Shubman Gill 78, Abhishek Sharma 33, Priyam Garg 33*, Praveen Jayawickrama 2/30.
Bangladesh U19s vs Pakistan U19s
Pakistan U19s registered a nail-biting one-wicket win over Bangladesh U19s in their group B decider at Galle International Stadium but failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
Bangladesh U19 – 230 all out in 49.5 overs: Afif Hossain 80, Saif Hassen 32, Mohommad Rakib 42, Nasir Nawaz 2/11, Shaheen Shah Afradi 2/50, Umer Khan 2/32.
Pakistan U19 – 233/9 in 49.1 overs: Zaid Alam 50, Mohsin Khan 29, Abdullah Shafique 30, Nasir Nawaz 45, Ali Zaryab 33, Afif Hossain 2/37, Shakhwat Hossain 2/43.
Nepal U19s vs Malaysia U19s
The spirited Nepalese outfit recorded a close one-wicket win Malaysia U19s in their final group A match at NCC grounds.
Malaysia U19 – 153 all out in 44.4 overs: Virandeep Singh 75, Muhammed Hasif 21, Aadil Khan 3/24, Sandeep Lamaicchane 2/35, Dipendra Singh Airee 2/35.
Nepal U19 – 154/9 in 44.4 overs: Avinash Karn 29, Dipendra Singh Airee 22, Anil Sah 32, Pawan Sarraf 29*, Virandeep Singh 3/29, Syed Aziz 2/30.
Afghanistan U19s vs Singapore U19s
Afghanistan U19s qualified for the semi-finals when they comfortably massacred Singapore U19s by 9 wickets with 275 balls to spare in their group B encounter at Surrey Village grounds in Maggona.
Singapore U19 – 73 all out in 18.2 overs: Yuvraj Singh 15, Mujeeb 4/13, Yousuf Zazai 4/11.
Afghanistan U19 – 75/1 in 4.1 overs: Darwish Rasooli 53*.
Read More : Sri Lanka U19s survive Nepali scare
Semi-Finals Schedule
1st Semi-final – India U19 vs Afghanistan U19 on 20th December at R. Premadasa International Stadium (2.30pm)
2nd Semi-final – Sri Lanka U19 vs Bangladesh U19 on 21st December at R. Premadasa International Stadium (2.30pm)
Points Table
GROUP A
| TEAMS | MAT | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | PTS | NET RR |
| India Under-19s | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | +2.554 |
| Sri Lanka Under-19s | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +0.746 |
| Nepal Under-19s | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.334 |
| Malaysia Under-19s | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.817 |
GROUP B
| TEAMS | MAT | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | PTS | NET RR |
| Bangladesh Under-19s | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +1.584 |
| Afghanistan Under-19s | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +1.425 |
| Pakistan Under-19s | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +1.368 |
| Singapore Under-19s | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -11.312 |
