Unbeaten U-19s power through to semis
Bangladesh Under-19s moved to the semifinals of the Under-19s Asia Cup with a clinical 42-run win over their Sri Lankan counterparts in Moratuwa. The win meant that they finished their Group B matches as champions and will face Group A runners-up Afghanistan in the semifinal in Moratuwa on September 12.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will take on Group A champions India on the same day at Colombo in the other semifinal.
The Young Tigers' win was set up by opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy's century that lifted the side to a strong total of 273 for seven after skipper Akbar Ali chose to bat first at the toss.
It was then a concerted bowling effort that shot the home team out for 231 in 47.2 overs. Sri Lanka were not allowed to put on any partnership of note, with the 53-run fourth-wicket stand between Ahsan Wickremasinghe (33) and Nipun Dananjaya (36) being the highest of the innings. Bangladesh got into the driver's seat when Wickremasinghe was caught and bowled by off-spinner Shamim Hossain in the 29th over to leave the score oin 132 for four.
From 132 for three before Wickremasinghe's dismissal, Sri Lanka collapsed to 183 for nine in the 41st over. Number nine batsman Rohan Sanjaya saved some of the hosts' blushes by top-scoring with 42 in a 10th-wicket stand of 48 before he was last out, bowled by left-arm seamer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury.
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasssan was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 49 from his 10 overs, but all five bowlers -- left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam (2-50), Shamim (1-50), Mrittunjoy (1-38) and off-spinner Ashraful Islam (2-47) being the others -- chipped in during a fine bowling performance.
Bangladesh U-19s will now face Afghanistan
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy's blazing century powered Bangladesh to an imposing total of 273 in their Under-19s Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka in Moratuwa today.
Joy scored 126 off 140 deliveries, his innings featuring 12 fours and two sixes as Bangladesh posted 273 for seven after winning the toss.
The opener was especially severe after reaching his hundred, taking 21 runs off five deliveries in the 46th over, which cost 25 runs in total.
Towhid Hridoy scored 50 runs while there were a few cameos down the order helping the boys in red and green reach the big total.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have both qualified for the semifinals of the event from Group B. The champions of this group will play against Afghanistan while runners-up team will face off against India in the last four meetings.
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