Sarfaraz (R) and Anmolpreet (L) impressed with the bat to ensure India reach their fifth final and have a chance to make it four U19 World Cup crowns. PHOTO COURTESY: ICC
DUBAI: Anmolpreet Singh scored 72 and Sarfaraz Khan made 59 as India stormed into the final of the U19 World Cup with a convincing 97-run win over Sri Lanka in their semi-final clash in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Tuesday.
India recovered from early setbacks to post 267-9 after being put in to bat on a misty morning in Mirpur, while Sri Lanka were dismissed for 170 in 42.4 overs to hand three-time champions India their fifth appearance in the final.
Pakistan knocked out of U19 World Cup
Skipper Ishan Kishan’s men await the winner of Thursday’s second semi-final between hosts Bangladesh and the West Indies in the title clash in Mirpur on February 14.
India lost openers Rishabh Pant and Kishan by the 10th over to slip to 27-2 in conditions that suited Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers.
Sarfaraz and man-of-the-match Anmolpreet revived the innings by adding 96 for the third wicket with a mix of big shots and sharp ones and twos. Sarfaraz hit six fours and a six while Anmolpreet, playing only his second match of the tournament, matched his senior partner with the same number of hits to the fence.
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Sri Lanka grabbed six wickets in the final 10 overs, but India still managed to add 89 runs as Armaan Jaffer pushed the score along with a 16-ball 29.
Sri Lanka slipped to 42-3 following the loss of skipper and star batsman Charith Asalanka in the 10th over, before Kamindu Mendis (39) and Shammu Ashan (38) engineered a brief recovery.
But, once left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar had Mendis caught off a top-edged sweep and Ashan ran himself out, Sri Lanka caved in tamely against the steady India bowlers.
Dagar finished with impressive figures of 3-21.
Pakistan down Nepal to ensure top-six finish
Meanwhile, Pakistan bounced back after their quarter-final loss to the West Indies to rout Nepal by 122 runs in Fatullah and ensure a top-six finish in the 16-nation tournament.
Hasan Mohsin hit 117 and took 4-42 as Pakistan made 258-8 after being asked to bat, and then bowled Nepal out for 136.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2016.
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