Bangladesh U-19 cricket team set up a final date with hosts United Arab Emirates after beating record seven-time winners India by four wickets in Friday’s semi-final in Dubai.
In Sunday’s final, the young Tigers will face surprise package UAE who defeated Pakistan by 11 runs in Friday’s other last four clash.
This was the home side’s second upset of the tournament’s 10th edition after beating Sri Lanka in the group stage where the Emiratis lost to a dominant Bangladesh.
India, asked to bat first, were all out for 188 in 42.4 overs in the face of some brilliant Bangladesh bowling, led by left-arm seamer and player of the match Maruf Mridha (4/41), while right-arm pacer Rohanat Doullah Borson and off-spinner Sheikh Parvez Jibon bagged two wickets each.
The Indians were reduced to 61/6 before Musheer Khan (50) and Murugan Abhishek (62) rescued their side with an 84-run seventh-wicket stand.
In reply, the youngsters in red and green lost their top-order early as this edition’s highest scorer Ashiqur Rahman Shibli (seven), opener Jishan Alam (nought) and No 3 Chowdhury Md Rizwan (13) all departed in quick succession to leave Bangladesh 34/3.
Ariful Islam (94), who clubbed nine fours and four sixes in his 90-ball knock, and Ahrar Amin (44) then stitched together a match-winning 138-run fourth-wicket partnership to take Bangladesh on the verge of a famous victory.
Bangladesh eventually reached their target with more than seven overs to spare.
India’s Naman Tiwari and Raj Limbani shared five wickets between them.
2ND SEMI-FINAL
India U-19 188 in 42.4 overs (Murugan 62, Maruf 4/41) lost to Bangladesh U-19 189/6 in 42.5 overs (Ariful 94, Ahrar 44) by 4 wickets
