Sri Lanka, Bangladesh reach U19 Asia Cup semi-finals
DUBAI: Defending champions Bangladesh, alongside Sri Lanka, on Monday stormed into the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals from Group B with respective victories, while hosts Afghanistan and Nepal crashed out. In the seventh match of the eight-team tournament here at the ICC Academy, Sri Lanka registered a hard-earned two-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a low-scoring thriller.
Opting to bat first, the hosts could accumulate 235 before getting bowled out in 49.5 overs despite opening batter Osman Sadat’s anchoring half-century. Osman remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan with 52 off 87 deliveries, overseeing their innings until falling victim to Chamika Heenatigala in the 34th over.
Besides him, Faisal Shinozada and Azizullah Miakhil could make notable contributions to Afghanistan’s total with 39 and 31, respectively. For Sri Lanka, Sethmika Seneviratne and Dulnith Sigera picked up three wickets each, while Rasith Nimsara and Chamika Heenatigala bagged two each. In response, Sri Lanka were made to do hard yards to chase down the modest 236-run target as they lost eight wickets in the process and utilised 49.2 overs. Opener Viran Chamuditha remained the top-scorer for the Lions with an 83-ball 62 up the order, but all-rounder Heenatigala was their standout batter as he steered them over the line in the nerve-testing clash with an unbeaten 51 off 57 deliveries, studded with three fours and a six.
Nooristani Omarzai was the standout bowler for Afghanistan, taking three wickets for 52 runs in his 10 overs, while Wahidullah Zadran, Salam Khan, Roohullah Arab and Uzairullah Niazai could make one scalp apiece. At The Sevens Stadium here, a collective bowling effort, followed by Zawad Abrar’s unbeaten half-century, propelled Bangladesh to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Nepal in another Group B fixture. Put into bat first, Nepal’s batting unit could yield 130 as they were bowled out in 31.1 overs. All-rounder Abhisekh Tiwari remained their top-scorer with an anchoring 30, followed by wicketkeeper batter Aashish Luhar, who made 23. The duo also shared a crucial 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket, which bolstered their total past the 100-run mark. Besides them, only openers Sahil Patel (18) and Niraj Kumar Yadav (14) could amass double figures.
Bangladesh made light work of the 131-run target as they chased it down for the loss of three wickets and 151 balls to spare. Leading the way for them was opening batter Zawad, who top-scored with an unbeaten 70 off 68 deliveries with the help of seven fours and three sixes. Following the second Group B matchday, Sri Lanka remained at the summit with four points in two matches, holding an edge over second-placed Bangladesh due to a superior net run rate.
On the last Group B matchday on Wednesday, semi-final-bound Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take on each other, while Afghanistan and Nepal will lock horns for consolation victory. Web Desk
