India crush Sri Lanka to reach final

India crushed Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the semi-final match of the ICC U19 CWC 2016 to advance to the final on February 14 against Bangladesh or West Indies.

Chasing 268, Sri Lanka were all out for 170 in 43 overs, and they never looked like giving India a fight.

For Sri Lanka, it was a miserable day with the bat. Two of their batters got out in the thirties while two in the twenties. PHKD Mendis top-scored with 39.

India’s MJ Dagar took three wickets for 21 runs in 6.4 overs. Avesh Khan took two. Anmolpreet was adjudged the man of the match for his 72 in India’s innings.

Sri Lanka lost their last two wickets in the 43rd over, and they failed to stop the Indian juggernaut.

Washington Sundar hammered the third-last nail into Sri Lanka’s coffin when he bowled BADN Silva for 24. Silva lasted 39 balls and struck two fours. He fell in the 42nd over.

Sri Lanka kept on sliding towards a huge defeat as they lost their seventh wicket in the 38th over, and victory was a bridge too far for them by now.

India tasted success in the 35th over when Avesh took his second wicket of the match when PVR Silva was caught for 28. Silva tried to dab the ball to third man but only managed to nick it to keeper Pant.

Silva lasted 40 balls but failed to hit the big shots when needed.

Sri Lanka lost the crucial wicket of Ashan in the 28th over, and the writing was on the wall as far as the match was concerned. Ashan was run out for 38 from 49 balls.

Sri Lanka suffered a massive blow in the 24th over when India managed to break their third wicket stand that produced 49 runs in 13.5 overs.

PHKD Mendis went for a sweep, made a mess of it and the top-edge was cleanly taken by Lomror at short fine leg. Mendis helped Sri Lanka consolidate with his knock of 39 runs.

He faced 67 balls and struck four fours during his stay at the wicket.

Sri Lanka captain was dismissed in the tenth over, when he played an atrocious shot to throw his wicket away.

Asalanka went across the line for an ill-advised hoick, and the fielder ran to his left from mid-on to take a good catch. Sri Lanka skipper was sent back for six runs.

India took control when they sent back two Sri Lankan batsmen inside four overs with their new ball bowlers hitting the right length more often than not.

A shoddy piece of running gave India their second wicket when Sri Lanka’s Bandara was found short of the crease after he scored two runs. A full-stretch dive could not save the batsman as the throw from deep was too quick and accurate.

India’s Avesh Khan gave his side the first breakthrough in the first over when he trapped Fernando in front. The ball went through the gap between pad and bat to strike the batter in front of leg.

Earlier, India managed to score 267 with some late hitting from Jaffer and Lomror in the semi-final match against Sri Lanka at Mirpur stadium

India lost two wickets in the last over bowled by Kumara. Batham was run out in the first ball while Dagar fell in the third for 17.

AM Fernando struck in the second last over when he removed Lomror for 11. Lomror skied the ball to third man where Kumara didn’t make any mistake.

Arman Jaffer fell in the 47th over, not before he played a cameo of 29 runs in 16 balls with three fours and a six. He allowed India the quick runs in the power-play overs.

With runs coming thick and fast, Sri Lanka took wickets as Indian batters threw the kitchen sink and everything.

Washington Sundar played a good hand, and scored 43 from 45 when chips were down. He had three hits across the boundary rope during his handy knock before being dismissed in the 45th over.

India lost their set batsman Anmolpreet at the worst possible time when Nimesh struck in the 43rd over against the run of play.

The 70-run fifth wicket stand laid the platform for the explosive batting late in the innings, and Anmolpreet was looking quite good at the crease.

Anmolpreet batted responsibly, scored 72 important runs in 92 balls. He smashed six fours and a six during his stay at the wicket.

Sri Lanka fought back after a substantial third wicket stand to dismiss Sarfaraz Khan in the 31st over to dent India’s innings.

The 93-run partnership after the loss of early wickets removed the jitters, and allowed the Indian middle order some breathing space.

Sarfaraz scored 59 from 71 balls with six fours and a six to his name. He negotiated the difficult spells, was patient and took on the bowlers when they began to tire.

Sri Lanka new ball bowlers vindicated their captain’s decision to put India in, and they were on the money from ball one. They took two important wickets by sustaining pressure from both ends.

The tenth over brought another reward for the Lankan side, and they knew the importance of the wicket. Indian captain Ishan Kishan walked back, dejected having played a loose shot to a loose ball from Kumara.

Ishan threw his bat at the back of length, wide delivery, and only managed to get an edge to the keeper. He lasted 25 balls, scored seven runs with much difficulty.

Sri Lanka got their first breakthrough in the ninth over, and they got the in-form Pant for a low score.

Pant had a leaden-footed push away from the body to a full delivery, and paid the ultimate price. The keeper lunged forward and pouched the ball inches from the turf…great catch!

The Indian opener, having terrorized opposition bowlers in this tournament fell for 14 runs from 28 balls with two hits to the fence.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka decided to bowl first judging the overhead conditions against India led by Ishan Kishan in the crucial semi-final match of ICC U19 CWC 2016 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur.

England U19 Captain Brad Taylor won the toss and elected to bat first on the batting friendly wicket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium against West Indies U19 led by Simon Hetmyer. File Photo: STAR

The power-packed Indians breezed through Group D with an all-win record against New Zealand, Nepal and Ireland, before crushing Namibia by 197 runs in the quarter-final.

Sri Lanka bounced back after a 23-run defeat to Pakistan in the last Group B match to stun a strong England side by six wickets in the quarter-final.

The in-form India side is rated as favourite, having won a tri-series in Sri Lanka last December, which also featured England, but their coach Rahul Dravid refused to take victory for granted.

“We know what to expect from them,” said Dravid. “They have a couple of seamers and a lot of good spinners. They bowl a lot of spin. Having said that, they also know what to expect from us.

Sri Lanka coach Roger Wijesuriya said his side’s impressive win over England left him optimistic about the semi-final.

“India is a strong side, a good all-round side,” said Wijesuriya. “We know their strengths. I know Indians play spin well but spin bowling is our strength and we will stick to that.

“If we play the way we did against England, there is no reason why we can’t turn the semi-final in our favour.

The winner of today’s clash will meet either host Bangladesh or the West Indies in the final on 14 February.

India are playing their seventh semi-final, having won the tournament thrice. Sri Lanka, looking for their maiden title are appearing in third semi-final game.

When the tournament was last held in Bangladesh in 2004, Pakistan won the title defeating the West Indies in the final. India finished third and Sri Lanka was fifth.

Teams

India

Avesh Khan, RR Batham, KK Ahmed, RR Pant (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Captain), Anmolpreet Singh, SN Khan, Armaan Jaffer, MK Lomror, Washington Sundar and MJ Dagar

Sri Lanka

PWH de Silva, NACJ Nanayakkara, BADN Silva, SHTN Nimesh, AM Fernando, WMK Bandara, WIA Fernando, PHKD Mendis, KIC Asalanka (Captain), S Ashan, and PVR de Silva (Wicketkeeper)