Under-19 Asia Cup: Bangladesh’s Under-19 Asia Cup cricket team showcased exceptional resilience in a nail-biting semi-final clash against India in the Under-19 Asia Cup held in Dubai. A stellar performance by Ariful Islam, who scored a counter-punching fifty, and a fiery spell by left-arm pacer Maruf Mridha paved the way for Bangladesh’s thrilling four-wicket victory.
The semi-final unfolded on a slightly two-paced pitch, challenging the Indian batters who struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately getting bundled out for 188 in 42.4 overs. Musheer Khan (50) and Murugan Abhishek (62) emerged as the leading run-scorers in the Indian innings.
Maruf Mridha initiated India’s tough day with a superb opening spell, claiming four crucial wickets for 41 runs. His early exploits reduced India to a precarious 13 for 3 within seven overs. Openers Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, and captain Uday Saharan were dismissed without making significant contributions.
“Despite the challenging start, Musheer and Abhishek formed an 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket, rescuing India from a perilous situation at 61 for 6. Their fluent batting display provided some stability, but both players departed without significantly boosting the total”.
In response, Bangladesh faced a shaky start, reaching 34 for 3 in 9.4 overs. However, Ariful Islam and Ahrar Amin (44 off 101 balls) forged a resilient fourth-wicket stand, amassing 138 runs to put India on the back foot. Ariful, initially circumspect, unleashed an array of delectable shots, denying the Indian bowlers any significant breakthrough for an extended period.
“While Bangladesh lost a couple more wickets towards the end, Ariful’s standout performance ensured a comfortable victory, creating a sense of artificial excitement with India’s late attempts”.
In the first semi-final, UAE surprised Pakistan with an 11-run victory, setting the stage for an exciting final against Bangladesh. UAE’s captain Aayan Afzal Khan and opener Aryansh Sharma played pivotal roles in their team’s total of 193. The UAE team defended the target successfully, bowling out Pakistan for 182 to secure a place in the final against Bangladesh.
