Anmolpreet Singh guides India to fifth U-19 WC Final
India reached the final of the U-19 World Cup with an emphatic 98-run win over Sri Lanka in the semi-final at Dhaka on Tuesday. India rode on Anmolpreet Singh's patient knock of 72, after a top-order collapse, to post a total of 267 before wrapping up Sri Lanka in the 43rd over of the innings for 170 runs.
Chasing a modest target of 268, Sri Lanka got off to a poor star as Avesh Khan struck for India in the very first over. Avishka Fernando, who hit a boundary in the previous ball, was trapped in front of the wicket by a full and straight delivery from Avesh.
Sri Lanka never managed to recover from that early jolt as they lost two more wickets within the first 10 overs of their innings. A mix-up between Kaveen Bandara and Kamindu Mendis resulted in the former being run out for just 2, while his replacement Charith Asalanka was caught at mid-on after a mindless hoick across the line.
Sri Lanka were tottering at 42/3 by the 10th over, when Shammu Ashan joined Mendis at the crease. The duo dug deep and were looking on course to resurrect the innings with a 49-run partnership. However, they played too many dot balls, and the pressure of the required run rate eventually got to them.
In the 24th over, Mendis went for a sweep off Mayank Dagar, and did not get the connection he was looking for. The ball only managed to reach Washington Sundar at short fine leg, who took a safe catch.
Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals as none of their middle order batsmen managed to convert their 20s and 30s into big scores. Mayank Dagar, who also played an important little knock towards the end of India's innings, picked up three wickets, including the final wicket of the innings (Asitha Fernando) in the 42nd over to wrap up the Lankan innings for 170 runs.
India will now face the winner of the second semi-final, between Bangladesh and West Indies, on February 14 at Dhaka.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and put India into bat on a pitch which had seen some overnight rain. The toss did not change India's plans though, as Ishan Kishan insisted that he would have chosen to bat first in any case.
India got off to a slow start with the Sri Lankan pacers Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara keeping a tight leash on the proceedings. The usually destructive Rishabh Pant was tied down, as India scored just 23 runs in their opening eight overs, and managed just three boundaries during that period. The pressure eventually got to Pant, who was dismissed by Fernando in the first ball of the ninth over.
It was a full ball outside the off-stump, which moved away after pitching. Pant did not move his feet, and his drive produced an edge behind to wicket-keeper Vishad Randika. His partner Ishan Kishan did not last long as well, with Kumara grabbing his wicket with an edge off the Indian skipper's loose shot, again for Vishad Randika to take the catch.
India were tottering at 27/2 in the 10th over, when Anmolpreet Singh and Sarfaraz Khan came together at the crease. The duo went on to repair the Indian innings with a crucial partnership of 96 runs, before Fernando dismissed Sarfaraz in the 31st over, after an important knock of 59 runs.
Washington Sundar continued India's recovery, alongside Anmolpreet, and took India to a position of strength at 193/3, by the end of 42 overs. However, Anmolpreet, who had played a patient innings of 72 runs (from 92 balls), was dismissed just as he was about to shift gears. It was an unlucky dismissal as well, with the ball flicking his sleeve on the way to the wicketkeeper, but the Umpire raised his finger, much to the delight of Thilan Nimesh.
India lost wickets at regular intervals after Anmolpreet's departure, but a couple of brilliant cameos from Armaan Jaffer (29 runs from 16 balls) and Mayank Dagar (17 runs from 10 balls) took the hosts to a respectable total of 267, for the loss of nine wickets, at the end of their 50 overs.
Sri Lankan spinners were expected to be the main wicket-takers at the start of the game, but it was Asitha Fernando who was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 4/43 in his quota of 10 overs.
