India reaffirmed their supremacy in the U-19 Asia Cup with a record eighth title as they hammered Sri Lanka by nine wickets in a rain-hit summit showdown here on Friday.
The Indian bowlers were all over Sri Lanka, who were gasping at 74 for seven in 33 overs, when heavy rain lashed the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and stopped play for more than two hours.
It became a 38-over-a-side contest when play resumed with Sri Lanka limping to 106 for nine.
India were set a revised 102-run target in 38 overs via DLS method which they reached rather comfortably in 21.3 overs with opener AngkrishRaghuvanshi scoring an unbeaten 56 off 67 balls.
India’s only loss in the competition came against arch-rivals Pakistan who lost to Sri Lanka in the semifinals.
The tournament provided valuable game time for the YashDhull-led side ahead of the U-19 World Cup, beginning in the West Indies from January 14.
BCCI president SouravGanguly and secretary Jay Shah congratulated the team on its success.
“Congratulations to the under 19 team for winning the Asia Cup ..No cricket for 15 months since2020 for covid and to win is a commendable effort ..welldne to plyrs, coaches, new slctrs who hdvryltle time to pick the best players ..NCA deserves a lot of credit,” Ganguly tweeted.
Shah wrote, “Congratulations to India U19 for their excellent performance in the #U19AsiaCup and for winning the championship for the 8th time! This tournament has been an ideal preparation ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup in West Indies next month.” After tournament’s leading scorer Harnoor Singh departed cheaply in the chase, Raghuvanshi played sensibly alongside ShaikRasheed (31 not out off 49) to get the job done.
The opener, who could not make an impact in the earlier games, grew in confidence after playing a backfoot punch early on in the innings. His backfoot play was impressive against the pacers and his feet movement against the spinners was assured. Raghuvanshi’s innings comprised six boundaries.
Earlier, Sri Lanka opted to bat through early morning showers made conditions ideal for seam bowling first up.
The Indian pace duo of RajvardhanHangargekar and Ravi Kumar made the ball talk though the former was a tad unlucky to not get a wicket.
Left-arm pacer Ravi got the first wicket of the match by removing ChaminduWickramasinghe in the fourth over. The left-hander opener went for a big hoick over mid wicket but ended up mistiming it straight into the hands of Raj Bawa at third man.
Wickramasinghe’s opening partner Shevon Daniel tried to pull Bawa but the ball got big on him, taking a faint edge to wicketkeeper AaradhyaYadav to leave Sri Lanka at 15 for two in the 11th over.
