Sports
Suryakumar Yadav sizzles in India’s comprehensive win
Suryakumar Yadav hit a sparkling half-century as India registered a comprehensive win over Hong Kong in Dubai on Wednesday that sealed their spot in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. Suryakumar’s thrilling knock lifted India at the right time as they were searching for momentum at the death and eventually, his 26-ball unbeaten 68 powered them to 192/2 with Hong Kong managing only 152/5 in reply.
Rohit Sharma did get India off to a positive start before getting out but it was KL Rahul who made the headlines for all the wrong reasons for the major part of India’s innings. Rahul struggled to get going in his attempt to regain his touch post his comeback as Hong Kong stifled him. Virat Kohli also endured a similar fate as the Hong Kong spinners just didn’t allow these two to go after them. Eventually, Rahul edged one behind to the keeper in his attempt to sweep and fell for a 39-ball 36, a knock that didn’t do justice to India’s new approach in the T20 format.
He began with a bang. While Kohli and Rahul were struggling to bring out the sweep shot, Suryakumar came in and swept his first two balls for fours to get going. He quickly raced to 15 off 7 as his arrival to the crease happened at the ideal moment just when India were badly seeking momentum. With Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik and the returning Rishabh Pant still to come, Suryakumar had no inhibitions in trying to go after the bowling. By the end of the 15th over, India were 114/2 and had placed all their hopes on a strong finish to guide them to a match-winning total.
Kohli, who was struggling until the death overs, finally managed to hit one over cow corner to move into the forties whereas Suryakumar hit a boundary and a six to move to 26 off just 10. The onslaught continued as Ayush Shukla endured a tough finish to his strong spell with Suryakumar carting him around as well. At one stage it did appear like Suryakumar would go past fifty before Kohli but the former India skipper got to the landmark off 40 deliveries. Even though he wasn’t fluent, Kohli needed that knock in order to spend time out in the middle. Suryakumar at the other end threatened to smash six sixes in the final over when he cleared the ropes three times out of the first three deliveries but he could only add one more big hit to his name by the end of that eventful over as India fetched 78 in the final five to race to a strong total.
Yasim Murtaza was bounced out early by Arshdeep Singh before Babar Hayat took charge. Even though Hong Kong posted only 22 runs in the first four overs, the next two saw them add 29. Hyatt was doing the bulk of the damage as he took on Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh. By the end of the powerplay, it did appear like Hong Kong may go for glory but the chase fizzled out pretty soon.
The last ball of the powerplay saw Nizakat Khan getting run out and the next four overs fetched only 14 runs. Hayat then perished trying to smash Jadeja and that wicket pretty much ended Hong Kong’s faintest of hopes. Their batters were content batting out the overs before launching at the death. They took a special liking to Avesh’s bowling as they carted him around for 53 runs in his four overs to end up 40 runs short of India’s total.
Brief scores:India 192/2 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 68*, Virat Kohli 59*) beat Hong Kong 152/5 in 20 overs (Babar Hayat 41; Ravindra Jadeja 1/15) by 40 runs.
(Cricbuzz)
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 111 runs, Risinu Kithmuka scored an unbeaten half century to anchor St. Servarius’ batting line up to force a draw to their Under 19 cricket encounter against S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia on Friday.
The dogged knock facing 121 balls, helped the visitor post 93 for five wickets at close.
In a match dominated by the home team, Aaron David’s century was the highlight for S. Thomas’. They posted 269 for four wickets at close on day one and declared on the overnight score.
Meanwhile at Kotahena, Mevan Dissanayake top scored with 91 runs inclusive of eight fours and three sixes for St. Benedict’s to post 295 for 9 declared against Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya.
Results
Thomians dominate against St. Servatius’ at Mount Lavinia
Scores
S. Thomas’ 269 for 4 decl. in 73.3 overs (Jaden Amaraweera 40, Avinash Fernando 50, Aaron David 100n.o., Reshon Soloman 56; Lasindu Ramanayaka 2/87)
St. Servatius’ 111 all out 54.4 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 26, Thathsilu Bandara 20; Minon Warnasuriya 2/14, Chamash Gunawardena 2/24, Shanil Perera 3/18, Reshon Solomon 2/09) and 93 for 5 in 36 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 51n.o.; Aaron de Silva 2/30, Shanil Perera 3/23)
Bens 295 for 9 decl., Sri Dharmaloka 87/2 at Kotahena
Scores
St. Benedict’s 295 for 9 decl. in 56.4 overs (Mevan Dissanayake 91, Vihanga Rathnayake 42, Yohan Edirisinghe 31, Ayesh Gajanayake 49; Sathindu Praboda 4/98, Tharusha Mihiranga 2/66)
Sri Dharmaloka 87 for 2 in 25 overs (Senuka Pehesara 40, Kaveen Deneth 40n.o.; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/27)
by Reemus Fernando
Pakistan marched into the final of the Under 19 Asia Cup with a clinical eight wicket win over Bangladesh in the rain-hit semi-final in Dubai, after a dominant bowling performance led by Abdul Subban set up a straightforward chase. The victory sets up a final clash against India, who won the first semi final against Sri Lanka earlier in the day.
Opting to field after winning the toss in the rain-reduced 27-overs-a-side contest, Pakistan made early inroads as Bangladesh slipped to 24 for 2 inside six overs. Captain Azizul Hakim offered brief resistance to steady the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Fast bowler Subhan was the standout with the ball, picking up four wickets to dismantle the middle order. From 55 for 2 in the 13th over, Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 38 runs, collapsing to 93 for 7. The lower order struggled to rebuild, and Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 121 in 26.3 overs, with no batter able to convert a start into a big score.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase was smooth. After the early loss of opener Hamza Zahoor in the first over, Sameer Minhas anchored the innings with a composed, unbeaten 69, ensuring there were no further hiccups. He struck six fours and two sixes as Pakistan cruised to 122 for 2 with 63 balls to spare.
With this knock, Minhas took his tournament’s tally to 299 to be the highest run-getter.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 122 for 2 in 16.3 overs (Sameer Minhas 69*, Usman Khan 27; Samiun Basir 1-17) beat Bangladesh 121 in 26.3 overs (Samiun Basir 33; Abdul Subhan 4-20, Huzaifa Ahasan 2-10)by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George’s patient half-centuries helped India beat Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced game and set up an U-19 Asia Cup final with Pakistan.
It was a game where the momentum kept changing hands. India had Sri Lanka at 28 for 3 after opting to bowl. Captain Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenetigala hit back with a 45-run stand, but Sri Lanka soon lost 3 for 11. A 62-run stand between Heenatigala and Sethmika Seneviratne followed, but India again turned it around in the final three overs.
In reply, India were 25 for 2 as Sri Lanka sniffed a comeback. But Malhotra and George added an unbeaten 114 runs in a partnership of two halves: the first 62 runs they added took 51 balls, while the next 52 came off 36 deliveries. It was Malhotra who swung the game India’s way when he went 4, 4, 6 off Dulnith Sigera in the 13th over. Malhotra reached his fifty off 35 balls, while George took 43 balls.
India’s win was set up after their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 138. Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran struck early, while Vedant Trivedi’s direct hit ran Kavija Gamage out in the sixth over.
But Kanishk Chouhan struck twice in the 12th over, and Khilan Patel in the 13th, to force Sri Lanka to rebuild again. That brought Heenatigala and Seneviratne together. Seneviratne was the attacking of the two while Heenatigala, limping a little, was more patient. At 118 for 6 with three overs left, and with Seneviratne connecting it cleanly, Sri Lanka may have hoped to post 150. But just 20 runs amid two wickets in the last three overs applied the brakes on their scoring.
India will meet Pakistan in the final on Sunday.
Brief scores:
India Under 19s 139 for 2 in 18 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 61*, Aaron George 58*; Rasith Nimsara 2-31) beat Sri Lanka Under 19s 138 for 8 in 20 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 42, Vimath Dinsara 32, Sethmika Senevirathne 30; Henil Patel 2-31, Kanishk Chouhan 2-36) by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
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