Windies set up final date with India

Mirpur, February 11 

West Indies set up the title clash with India in the ICC U-19 World Cup final after beating hosts Bangladesh in the second semifinal match here today.

West Indies, who last reached the final in Bangladesh (2004), will face an undefeated Indian side for the title on Sunday. This will be the first-ever final between the two sides at the age-group level.

West Indies registered a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh as Man of the Match Shamar Springer followed his 2/36 with an unbeaten 62.

Having bundled out Bangladesh for 226, West Indies reached 230/7 in 48.4 overs. Batting first, Bangladesh lost openers Pinak Ghosh and Saif Hassan by the seventh over and were reeling at 27/2. They slipped further to 88/4 after Nazmul Hossain was dismissed for 11 and Joyraz Sheik fell for 35. 

However, Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan top-scored with 60, reviving the innings with an 85-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Saifuddin (36) after half the side had been dismissed for 113.

West Indies lost wickets regularly to keep Bangladesh in the hunt but half-centuries from Springer and skipper Shimron Hetmyer helped the Caribbean side record a memorable victory in the end. Gidron Pope (38; 25b, 5x4, 1x6) provided West Indies a swashbuckling start by taking 14 off the first over bowled by Mehidy. 

West Indies were 177/4, needing just 50 more runs in 13 overs, when left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed took two wickets in the 38th over. Springer, however, stood firm and finished off the match with two consecutive boundaries through the covers off Saifuddin.

Brief scores: Bangladesh: 226 all out in 50 overs (M Hasan 60, M Saifuddin 36; K Paul 3/20, S Springer 2/36, C Holder 2/36); West Indies: 230/7 in 48.4 overs (S Springer 62*, S Hetmyer 60; S Ahmed 3/37, M Saifuddin 2/46, M Hasan 2/57). — PTI