Bowlers drive India to eighth U19 Asia Cup title

DUBAI: Indian bowlers annihilated Sri Lanka’s batting line-up before Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s half-century guided the side to their record-extending eighth Under-19 Asia Cup title.

Set to chase 102 from 32 overs, as per Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method, India completed the run-chase in the 22nd over; winning the match by nine wickets.

The winning side, however, halted by a poor start in the run-chase, as Harnoor Singh departed cheaply after scoring just five. The men in blue lost their first wicket for a mere eight runs.

Raghuvanshi and Shaik Rashid, however, batted brilliantly and drove their side to the glory. The pair recorded an unbeaten 96-runs partnership. Rashid scored 31 off 49 balls, followed by the top-scorer – Raghuvanshi, who scored an astonishing half-century; scoring 56 off 67 balls, laced with seven boundaries.

For the Lions, only Yasiru Rodrigo picked up the only wicket.

Batting first, the Lions’ batters struggled completely, with none of their batters could able to go big. The side, in the end, bowled out for a paltry 106. Raveen de Silva scored 15, followed Rodrigo, who top-scored with his 19.

Indian bowlers, on the other hand, partnered strongly. Vicky Ostwal picked three wickets, while Kaushal Tambe claimed two. Raj Bawa, Ravi Kumar, and Rajvardhan Hangargekar each took one wicket apiece.

READ: U19 Asia Cup: India crush Bangladesh, advance to the final