Bangladesh U-19 team loses Asia Cup title to India

Publish: 8:32 PM, September 14, 2019 | Update: 8:32 PM, September 14, 2019

DHAKA, – Bangladesh Under-19 team failed to hold the nerve in the crunch moment once again and paid it off, losing the Youth Asia Cup final by five runs against India at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

The narrow victory gave India the record seventh title of Under-19 Asia Cup, arranged by Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Ever since the Under-19 Asia
Cup was launched in 1989, India has reached all but one final and so good their record is that they have never lost a final, ACC website said.

The final in 2012 was a tie with India and Pakistan being declared joint- champions while Afghanistan won the 2017 title, beating Pakistan.

However, apparently India appeared to lose this final match when spirited Bangladeshi youngsters skittled them out for just 106 in 32.4 overs.

Standing on the brink of losing the final, Indian youths brought up their A game, led by left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar, who snared 5-28 as
Bangladesh U19 was shot out for 101 in 33 overs.

Fast bowler Akash Singh made the initial damage with 3-12, scything down the Bangladeshi top order. Vidyadhar Patil took the one scalp and Bangladesh was in tatters with 16-4 in pursuit of a meager 107. Skipper Akbar Ali held together the innings and revived the hope but that was shattered after Ankolekar appeared at the crease to bowl.

Ankolekar took prized scalp of Akbar for 23 before slicing the late middle order in a gem of spin bowling. With Bangladesh at 78-8, India sensed a victory with this paltry total. However, No.9 batsman Tanzim Hasan Sakib and No. 10 Rakibul Hasan stood tall and revived Bangladesh’s hope as they took the side edge closer with vital 23-run partnership.

But Ankolekar was relentless. As Bangladesh looked to cross the hurdle somehow, he produced one magical delivery — a sly arm-ball that came
straight to hit the pad of Sakib to dismiss him for 11.

In that same over, he took out No. 11 Shahin with another straight one to not only rattle the stump but also break the heart of Bangladeshi fans.
Rakibul was not out on 11. Mrittunjoy Chowdhury was the other notable scorer with 21.

After opting to bat first, India found them in vulnerable 8-3, with Mrittunjoy tormenting them with his express pace. Left-arm spinner Shamim Hossain joined him to compound the Indians woe. Skipper Dhruv Jurel however held together the innings amid the despair but when Shamim dismissed him for 33, Bangladesh got a real hope to bowl India out limiting their score below 100.

No. 8 Karan Lal hammered 43 ball-37 with three fours and one six towards the end to help India past 100. And that eventually turned out to be a
winning total for India.