Sri Lanka Team Out of U 19 Asia Cup

2023.12.14

After losing against Bangladesh by six wickets, Sri Lanka is eliminated from the U19 Asia Cup.

The ambitions of the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team were dashed as they faltered in their pursuit of a spot in the semi-finals during the gripping clash at the 2023 U19 Asia Cup in Dubai. In a must-win showdown against Bangladesh, the young Lankan squad succumbed to a formidable 6-wicket defeat, amplifying the setback following their unexpected loss to the less-heralded UAE in the previous encounter.

Bangladesh‘s victory was spearheaded by Ashiqur Rahman’s scintillating innings, as he single-handedly propelled his team to a triumphant 204 for 4 wickets in just 40.5 overs, effortlessly overshadowing Sri Lanka’s modest 199 for 9 in 50 overs. The Lankan batsmen found themselves in a tight spot against Bangladesh’s precision attack, with none managing to breach the 20-run mark. Pulindu Perera led the scoring with 28, closely followed by Sineth Jayawardena and Vishwa Lahiru at 25 each, Rusanda Gamage at 24, Ravishan de Silva at 21, Sharujan Shanmuganathan at 21, Dinura Kalupahana at 20, and Ruvishan Perera at 19.

Wasi Siddiquee emerged as Bangladesh’s bowling maestro, clinching an impressive 3 wickets for 32 runs, while Maruf Mridha and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby contributed with 2 wickets each, limiting Sri Lanka’s batting prowess.

This untimely exit unraveled Sri Lanka’s initial successes, placing skipper Sineth Jayawardena’s squad in a precarious must-win situation in their upcoming clash against Bangladesh. The earlier defeat to hosts UAE marked a pivotal turning point in the tournament dynamics, as the resilient hosts secured a spot in the semi-finals by posting a commanding 320 for 7 wickets and thwarting Japan’s valiant effort at 213 for 4 wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

As the semi-final contenders emerged, Bangladesh stood unbeaten with three consecutive wins, firmly positioning themselves as contenders for the championship title. The narrative of the tournament took an unexpected twist, showcasing the unpredictable nature of cricket in the U19 arena.

Final Score

Sri Lanka U19 199/9 (50 Overs) (Pulindu Perera 28, Ravishan de Silva 21, Sineth Jayawardena 25, Dinura Kalupahana 20, Rusanda Gamage 24, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 21, Vishwa Lahiru 25, Ruvishan Perera 19, Maruf Mridha 2/34, Wasi Siddiquee 3/ 32, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby 2/40)

Bangladesh U19 204/4 (40.5 Overs) (Ashiqur Rahman Shibli 116, Chowdhur Md Rizwan 32, Ahrar Amin 23, Garuka Sanketh 2/56)

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