BD romp into semis
Hosts Bangladesh romped into the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup semifinals by emerging as unbeaten champions of Group-B with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Nepal at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar yesterday.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck an unbeaten fifty while opener Naim Sheikh added 45 runs to help the side chase down the small 139-run target with ease.
Earlier, after being asked to bat Nepal struggled right from the get-go thanks to pacer Sumon Khan and leg-spinner Minhajul Abedin Afridi, both of whom bagged three wickets each for Bangladesh.
Sompal Kami top scored for Nepal with 38 runs as the side kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bundled out for 138.
In the other Group-B fixture at the BKSP-3 ground, India registered a huge 120-run win over Hong Kong to finish second on the points table with two wins and one defeat.
Electing to bat, India posted 322 for five in 50 overs, courtesy of a Chinmay Sutar century while skipper BR Sharath added a 93-ball 90. Off-spinner Kinchit Shah picked up three wickets for the bowling side.
In reply, Hong Kong lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually all-out for 202 in 47.3 overs. Shahid Wasif top scored for Hong Kong with 68 while India’s Shubham Sharma followed his instrumental 65 not out by bagging four wickets.
From Group-A, Pakistan and Afghanistan also went through to the semifinals by sealing wins over Oman and Sri Lanka respectively in Cox’s Bazar.
Asked to bat, Pakistan rode on a magnificent hundred from opener Haider Ali to post a goliath total of 319 for six. In reply, Oman were all-out for 172, succumbing to a devastating 147-run defeat.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan registered a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the other Group-A match as an unbeaten century from opener Shahidullah helped make quick work of the 239-run target.
Shahidullah remained not out on 102 runs off 137 balls, featuring seven fours and three sixes, while Darwish Rasooli added 61 runs as Afghanistan reached their target with 31 balls to spare.
Earlier, despite a century from skipper Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka could only post a modest total with Azmatullah Omarzai and Abdul Wasi scalping three wickets each for Afghanistan.
India will now take on Group-A champions Pakistan in the first semifinal on Wednesday while Bangladesh will square off against Group-A runners-up Afghanistan the following day.
Both semifinal fixtures along with the final match of the tournament will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
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