The run of heartbreaking close defeats in finals against India continued for Bangladesh cricket as the U-19 team followed their seniors’ path when they lost agonizingly in the Asia Cup final by five runs Saturday in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh bundled out six-time champion India in the final of the Asia Cup U-19 tournament at R Premadasa Stadium but they themselves capitulated for just 101 while chasing the easy target, handing the opponent their seventh title.
Apart from lackluster batting, Bangladesh may also rue their luck against poor umpiring as at least three decisions went against them during the chase.
The last of them, the leg before decision of No 9 Tanzim Hasan Shakib, who clearly edged the ball, would hurt the young Tigers most as the ninth wicket stand added 23 vital runs before that dismissal and seemed to be on the path to victory.
Shakib was dismissed for 12 in the third ball of the 33rd over and the bowler Atharva Ankolekar picked up last man Shahin Alam three balls later for the same score to wrap up the game and take his tally to 5/28 that guaranteed him the man-of-the-match award.
Though the off-spinner was the destroyer in chief, opening bowler Akash Singh did the early damage while defending the small total as he took three wickets in just 13 balls to reduce the opposition to 16/4.
Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali (23) and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury (21) offered some fight in the middle-order but that was not enough to take them home.
Earlier in the day, India were in all sorts of trouble after winning the toss as they lost three wickets for just eight runs.
Their captain Dhrub Jurel (33) and Shashwat Rawat (19) formed a 45-run stand to resurrect the innings somewhat but they lost a few more quick wickets to be reduced to 62/7.
But their No 8 batsman Karan Lal scored valuable 37 off 43 balls and in the end, the innings remained the highest individual one in the low-scoring affair.
Mrittunjoy and Shamim bagged three wickets apiece for the young Tigers.