Anmol drives India into final

Mirpur, February 9 

The Rahul Dravid-coached India stormed into the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a convincing 97-run win over Sri Lanka in the first semifinal at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Tuesday.

Anmolpreet Singh scored 72 and Sarfaraz Khan made 59 as India recovered from early setbacks to post 267/9 after being put in to bat on a misty morning. Sri Lanka, in reply, were dismissed for 170 in 42.4 overs, and the three-time champions India stormed into the final for the fifth time.

Now, skipper Ishan Kishan’s boys await the winner of Thursday’s second semifinal between hosts Bangladesh and West Indies in the title clash scheduled for Sunday.

India had lost openers Rishabh Pant and Kishan by the 10th over to slip to 27/2 in the conditions that suited Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers. Sarfaraz and Man-of-the-Match Anmolpreet revived the innings by adding 96 for the third wicket with a mix of big shots and sharp ones and twos. Sarfaraz hit six fours and a six while Anmolpreet, playing only his second match in the tournament, matched his senior partner with the same number of hits to the fence. 

Sri Lanka grabbed six wickets in the final 10 overs but India still managed to add 89 runs as Armaan Jaffer pushed the score along with a 16-ball 29.

Seamer Asitha Fernando was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler (4/43). His new-ball partner Lahiru Kumar and spinner Thilan Nimesh picked up two wickets each.

“To enter the final unbeaten shows we have executed our plans well. Anmolpreet and Sarfaraz brought us back during our innings and then the bowlers kept up the pressure to restrict Sri Lanka. The final will be a new game. We have to prepare well and be ready for the challenge,” said Kishan.

Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka said his team allowed the match to slip away after pinning India against the ropes. “I thought we did well to restrict the Indians both at the start and the end of their innings. But then we let the advantage slip. The target was not difficult, but we kept losing wickets. No one stayed long enough to take us through,” he said.

Brief scores: India 267/9 in 50 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 72, Sarfaraz Khan 59, Washington Sundar 43; Asitha Fernando 4/43, Lahiru Kumara 2/50, Thilan Nimesh 2/50); Sri Lanka 170 all out in 42.2 overs (Kamindu Mendis 39, Shammu Ashan 38; Mayank Dagar 3/21, Avesh Khan 2/41) — IANS