U-19s bow out

Bangladesh were eliminated from the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup after they lost their rain-curtailed semifinal match against hosts Sri Lanka by 26 runs in Duckworth-Lewis method. Batting first on winning the toss, Bangladesh were bundled out for 194 in 48.3 overs in the day-night affair at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka made a strong reply and were 106 for the loss of two wickets when rain intervened and forced the match to be decided by the D/L method. The hosts were 26 runs ahead of the D/L par score and were declared winners by the same margin.

Bangladesh began their innings well but lost wickets at crucial moments and hence failed to build game-changing partnerships.

Captain Saif Hassan and Mohammad Sozib Hosen gave Bangladesh a good start with a 42-run stand in 8.3 overs. However, after Jehan Daniel removed Saif for 26, Bangladesh lost their way. Sozib was bowled by Thisaru Rasmika in the 12th over for 18 and Bangladesh were reduced to 56 for 2.

Afif Hossain, Habibur Rahman and Mohammad Rakib provided some middling contributions, but no one made a telling contribution with the bat as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The men in red and green lost their last six wickets for 28 runs as the innings crumbled six runs short of 200, with nine balls to spare.

Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, who took a four-wicket haul, and Hareen Weerasingah, with three scalps, were the key wicket-takers for Sri Lanka.

After the exchange Vishva Chaturanga scored a patient 68 off 77 balls to take Sri Lanka to the brink of a win, before rain stopped play.

SCORES IN BRIEF

BANGLADESH: 194 all out in 48.3 overs (Saif 26, Afif 36, Rayan 38, Rakib 22; Jayawickrama 4-25, Weerasingha 3-29)

SRI LANKA: 106 for 2 in 27.1 overs (Chathuranga 68, Kelly 23; Nayeem 2-12)

Result: Sri Lanka won by 26 runs.