India and Bangladesh have set up a final clash after winning their respective semi-finals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan convincingly in the 2024 U19 Asia Cup.
Suryavanshi leads India's assault
India defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Sharjah in a run-chase of 174. Sri Lanka were rocked early, losing their first three wickets inside the fourth over with Chetan Sharma being the destroyer-in-chief early on. A 93-run fourth-wicket partnership between Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Lakvin Abeysinghe steadied the innings, but regular wickets followed as Sri Lanka capitulated for 173.
Kiran Chormale and Ayush Mhatre took two wickets each, while Yudhajit Guha and Hardik Raj shared one each. Chetan was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3-34.
In response, India went hammer and tongs right from ball one. Suryavanshi hit a six off the first ball of the second over that landed outside the Sharjah Stadium. Two more sixes followed in the over, fetching 31 runs in total. India were 87-0 by the end of eight overs before Mhatre was dismissed in the ninth.
Suryavanshi brought up his fifty off just 23 balls in the 10th over before getting dismissed for 67 off 36, having hit six fours and five sixes. India eventually chased down the target in 21.4 overs.
Match 2nd Semi-Final, Sri Lanka Under-19 vs India Under-19
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Pakistan suffer second-worst defeat
Against Bangladesh, Pakistan were bowled out for a mere 116 after being put in to bat at the Dubai International Stadium. Medium pacer Iqbal Hossain Emon took 4-24, while Maruf Mridha took 2-23, dismissing both Pakistan openers for ducks. Farhan Yousuf waged a lone battle from No.7, scoring a run-a-all 37, but didn't get much support.
One of the Bangladesh openers fell for a duck as well, but captain Azizul Hakim led the way at No.3, remaining unbeaten with a counterattacking 42-ball 61 to take Bangladesh to victory in 22.1 overs for the loss of three wickets.
In terms of balls remaining, this was the second-worst defeat for Pakistan in U19 ODIs, having lost the game with 167 deliveries left. Their worst defeat was in 2017, when Afghanistan U19 chased down 58 in just 9.1 overs to win the game with 245 deliveries remaining.
India and Bangladesh will now face-off in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (December 8). Bangladesh are the defending champions, having won the 2023 U19 Asia Cup final, defeating the UAE.
Match 1st Semi-Final, Pakistan Under-19 vs Bangladesh Under-19
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