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Bangladesh and UAE set up Under-19 Asia Cup final date after shocking India and Pakistan respectively in their respective semifinal on Friday, December 15. Bangladesh Under-19 team, led by the fiery performances of Ariful Islam and left-arm pacer Maruf Mridha, secured a convincing four-wicket victory over India in the semi-final. The match, played on a challenging double-paced pitch, saw the Indian team struggle to gain momentum before being restricted to 188 in 42.4 overs. Musheer Khan and Murugan Abhishek were the main contributors for India, scoring 50 and 62 runs, respectively.
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Maruf Mridha's devastating bowling spell of 4 for 41 inflicted early damage on the Indian batting lineup. His ability to generate bounce and swing troubled the Indian openers, reducing them to a meager 13 for three in the initial overs.
However, Musheer Khan and Murugan Abhishek staged a remarkable recovery for India with an 84-run partnership for the seventh wicket, lifting the team from a dire situation at 61 for 6. Their fluent batting and aggressive approach, highlighted by Musheer's fifty off 59 balls and Abhishek's powerful six over long-off, brought some stability to the Indian innings.
Despite their efforts, the dismissal of both set batters led to India settling for a modest total. Bangladesh, in their chase, initially faced similar troubles, finding themselves at 34 for three in the early overs. But Ariful Islam, with his counter-attacking 94 off 90 balls, and Ahrar Amin, who scored a steady 44 off 101 balls, formed a formidable 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket, turning the tide in Bangladesh's favor.
Bangladesh did lose a couple of wickets towards the end of their innings, which briefly raised hopes for India, but the excitement was short-lived. The Bangladesh team's composure and strategic approach under pressure were commendable, as they crossed the finish line with ease.
This semi-final victory for Bangladesh U-19 is a testament to their growing prowess in youth cricket. Their ability to bounce back from early setbacks and execute a well-planned chase against a formidable Indian team highlights their skill and determination. The match was not only a showcase of individual brilliance from players like Islam and Mridha but also an illustration of effective teamwork and resilience under pressure.
UAE script history
Meanwhile hosts UAE clinched an 11-run victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup U-19 semifinal. UAE's captain Aayan Afzal Khan played a pivotal role, scoring a crucial 55 off 57 balls to set a competitive total. His efforts were complemented by his economical bowling against Pakistan's renowned batting lineup. Pacers Obaid Rehman and Hardik Pai supported well, each taking two wickets. The highlight, however, was Ayman Ahamed's performance, taking two key wickets towards the end to ensure UAE's triumph.
Pakistan's chase of 194 in this low-scoring affair unraveled in the 23rd over when Ammar Badami disrupted the third-wicket partnership between captain Saad Baig and Azan Awais. Baig's dismissal for 50, caught behind by Aryansh Sharma, marked the end of their 83-run stand and triggered a collapse. Harshit Pai delivered a stunning ball to dismiss Riaz Ullah, and a sharp fielding effort resulted in Awais's run-out. It significantly shifted the momentum, and subsequent run-outs further derailed Pakistan's innings, leaving them in a precarious position at 121 for 7.
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