India clinch Under 19 Asia Cup with convincing win over Lanka
India under 19 team made a fine team effort to retain the Asia Cup when they beat Sri Lanka under 19 by nine wickets in the rain hit final played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Indian opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi who scored an unbeaten 56 in 67 balls with 7 balls and Shaik Rasheed scored 31 in 49 balls with 2 fours adding 96 runs to seal their easy win in 21.3 overs in this final which was reduced to 38 overs per side after rain interruption, which meant that India had to get 99 runs in 38 overs in a revised target.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Under 19’s chose to bat first but a well disciplined bowling effort from the Indian seamers from the begining put more pressure on the Sri Lankan batters to collect their runs. The Indian bowlers conceded only 15 runs during the first 10 overs.
Openers Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Shevon Daniel failed to give a good start and Wickramasinghe was first to depart for 2 runs in 12 balls while first breakthrough was made by paceman Ravi Kumar in the 4th over. Daniel who scored 6 in 28 balls finally went for a pull shot and was caught behind by Aaradhya Yadev off the bowling of Raj Bawa in the 11th over.
When the Indian skipper Yash Dhull introduced his two spinners after 15 th over Kaushal Tambe, the off spinner and Vicky Ostwal, the leg spinner, Sri Lanka’s middle order collapsed while Tambe brought on further misery on the islanders, picking two wickets in his first three overs. Vicky Ostwal was the most successful bowler picking up three wickets including two in the 27th over to strangle the Sri Lankan youth side.
Anjala Bandara who scored 9 in 33 balls trapped by Tambe while left hander Pawan Pathiraja, the successful batter was Tambe’s second wicket being clean bowled scoring 4 runs in 17 balls. Sadisha Rajapaksa the centurien of the side in the earlier game was unfortunately out for 14 in 36 balls when Shaik Rasheed took a diving catch at point off Ostwal. Skipper Dunith Wellalage came ahead of Raveen de Silva but did not last long scoring only 9 runs went he went for a big stroke and was caught by Raj Bawa at mid wicket off Ostwal and Sri Lanka were 57 for 6 wickets in the 27th over.
However, rain halted the game after 33th over when Sri Lanka were 74 for 7 wickets .The game resumed after more than two hours time and was limited to 38 overs per side and Sri Lanka had to face only five overs. Yasiru Rodrigo (19 in 26 balls with two fours) and Raveen de Silva (15 in 29 balls with a four) made highest partnership of 25 runs for the eighth wicket before Raveen was run out. Rodrigo and Matheesha Pathirana added 24 runs and Pathirana was out for 14 in the last ball of the innings to reach 106 for 9 wickets.
Off spinner Kaushal Tambe took 2 for 23 in his 6 over spell while leg spinner Vicky Ostwal was the most successful bowler with 3 for 11 in his 8 over spell with three maidens.
The Yash Dhull-led young Indian side made fine team effort to retain the Asia Cup comprehensively. This is India’s eighth Asia Cup championship including a shared trophy with Pakistan in 2012.Indians also holds the record of having never lost a final.
Chief scores
Sri Lanka under 19 106 for 9 wickets in 38 overs. Sadisha Rajapaksa 14,Raveen de Silva 15, Yasiru Rodrigo 19 n.o, Matheesha Pathirana 14, Kaushal Tambe 2/23,Vicky Ostwal 3/11
India under 19 104 for 1 wicket in 21.3 overs Angkrish Raghuvanshi 56n.o,Shaik Rasheed 31n.o, Yasiru Rodrigo 1/12