ICC U-19 CWC: India beat Sri Lanka by 97 runs to reach final

India beat Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the first semi-final played today (9) at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh to reach the final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Put in to bat first India posted 267-9 and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 170 with 44 deliveries to spare.

Sri Lanka struggled from the start and could not make much headway as they lost wickets regularly. 

Allrounder Kamindu Mendis top scored for Sri Lanka with a well composed 39 which came off 67 deliveries with four boundaries while deputy skipper Sammu Ashan faced 48 deliveries to hit 38, inclusive of four fours.

Vishad Randika (28) and Damitha Silva (24) chipped in with useful knocks as Mayank Dagar claimed three wickets. 

India lost two quick wickets before Anmolpreet Singh and Sarfaraz Khan put on 96 runs for the third wicket.

Singh top scored for India with an enterprising knock of 72 off 92 balls inclusive of six boundaries and a six. 

Khan hit 59 off 71 deliveries inclusive of six boundaries and a six while Washington Sundar (43) and Armaan Jaffer (29) chipped in with useful knocks. 

Speedster Asitha Fernando claimed four wickets while Lahiru Kumara and Thilan Nimesh took two wickets each. 

Sri Lanka beat England by 6 wickets while India beat Namibia by 197 runs in the quarter-final stage.

The second semi-final is scheduled for Thursday (11) between hosts Bangladesh and West Indies at Dhaka.  

Sri Lanka will meet the losers of the second semi-final in the Third Place Playoff at Fatullah on Saturday (13).     

India Under-19s 267 for 9 wickets (50) (Anmolpreet Singh 72, Sarfaraz Khan 59, Washington Sundar 43, Armaan Jaffer 29, Mayank Dagar 17, Asitha Fernando 4/43, Lahiru Kumara 2/50, Thilan Nimesh 2/50) 

Sri Lanka Under-19s 170 all out (42.4) (Kamindu Mendis 39, Sammu Ashan 38, Vishad Randika 28, Damitha Silva 24, Mayank Dagar 3/21, Avesh Khan 2/41)