India A entered the final of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 with a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Bangladesh A in the semi-final, claiming the last four wickets for just six runs to complete a 51-run win.
They will now face Pakistan Shaheens in the final, on July 23, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Defending 212 in 50 overs, India were on the back foot when Bangladesh A raced to 100-2 in the 19th over, but a top spell from Nishant Sindhu (8-0-20-5) cut through their middle and lower order, changing the game completely. Only one out of Bangladesh’s last six batters managed to get into double digits, as they slipped first from 100-2 to 130-5, and then 160 all out.
A 70-run stand between openers Mohammad Naim and Tanzid Hasan was Bangladesh’s biggest partnership, as they regularly lost wickets thereafter to a disciplined Indian attack, who did not concede a single extra. As the chase turned interesting, there was a heated exchange between Soumya Sarkar and Harshit Rana as well, one that had to be doused by an umpires’ intervention.
What’s happening? Heated argument and exchange between Soumya Sarkar and Harshit Rana. It’s heating up there 🔥🔥🔥 #EmergingAsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/yzsw5OLLqq
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 21, 2023
Supporting Sindhu was fellow left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who accounted for Naim, No.3 Zakir Hassan, as well as Ripon Mondol, the final wicket to fall.
Earlier, it was skipper Yash Dhull’s 66 that carried India past 200, having themselves succumbed from 75-1 to 137-7, stifled by Bangladesh’s spinners. Dhull came in at No.4 and was the last wicket to fall, combining for crucial partnerships with the tail for India’s bowler to have enough to bowl at.
India ‘A’ advances into the finals!
India ‘A’ beat Bangladesh ‘A’ by 51 runs and booked their spot in the finals! Yash Dhull scored a sublime 66 and Nishant Sindhu spun a web, picking up 5 wickets and bundling out Bangladesh for a total of 160 runs.#ACCMensEmergingTeamsAsiaCup pic.twitter.com/y3whw4L10U— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) July 21, 2023
India, who topped Group B with three wins in as many games, will now face Pakistan Shaheens, second on the group, in the final. The two teams had met in the group stages, where India defeated them by eight wickets. The Shaheens defeated Sri Lanka A in the first semi-final by 60 runs to book a place in the final.
Brief scores: India A 211 all out in 49.1 overs (Y Dhull 66, A Sharma 34; R Hasan 2-36, M Hasan 2-39 beat Bangladesh A 160 all out in 34.2 overs (T Hasan 51, M Naim 38; N Sindhu 5-20, M Suthar 3-23)
Image credit: ACC/Twitter
