Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra strung an unbroken century partnership to steer India past Sri Lanka and storm into the semifinals of the U-19s Asia Cup in Dubai on Friday.
Chasing a modest 139 for two, in a match reduced to a 20-overs-a-side contest, India lost two early wickets. Skipper Ayush Mhatre (7) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (9) fell to Rasith Nimasara with just 25 on the board and the Sri Lankans had their tails up.
But Aaron and Vihaan had other ideas. The duo added 114 for the unbroken third wicket to book their final berth. Aaron scored 58 off 49 balls with four fours and a six, while Vihaan made a 45-ball 61 with four fours and two sixes. Fittingly enough, it was Aaron who got the winning boundary.
Earlier, put into bat, Sri Lanka were all at sea against the Indian colts. Kishan Singh struck the first blow as he had opener Dulnith Sigera (1) caught by Deepesh Devendran with 15 on the board.
Deepesh then had Viran Chamuditha (19) caught by Singh to reduce Lanka to 25 for two and three runs later Vedant Trivedi run out Kavija Gamage (2).
Skipper Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenatigala salvaged the situation to some extent before Kanishk Chouhan had Vimath caught by Singh for a 29-ball 32 (4×4). Chouhan made it five for 81 by getting rid of Kithma Withanapathirana, caught by Khilan Patel.
There was no respite for the Lankans as Aadham Hilmy fell to Khilan Patel, leaving his side tottering at six for 84.
Chamika found another able ally in Sethmika Seneviratna and the duo added 52 for the seventh wicket before Henil Patel struck twice in the final to leave Lanka at 138 for eight. Chamika topscored with 42 (38 balls, 3×4) and Seneviratna made a 22-ball 30 with two fours and a six.
Henil Patel took two for 31 and Chouhan two for 36.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka U-19s: Viran Chamuditha c Singh b Deepesh 19, Dulnith Sigera c Deepesh b Singh 1, Vimath Dinsara c Singh b Chouhan 32, Kavija Gamage (run out – Trivedi) 2, Chamika Heenatigala c Chouhan b H Patel 42, Kithma Withanapathirana c K Patel b Chouhan 7, Aadham Hilmy c Trivedi b K Patel 1, Sethmika Seneviratne c & b H Patel 30, Sanuja Ninduwara (not out) 0; Extras: (B1, NB1, W2) 4. Total: (For 8 wickets, 20 overs) 138.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-25, 3-28, 4-73, 5-81, 6-84, 7-136, 8-138.
Bowling: Kishan Singh 4-0-20-1, Henil Patel 4-0-31-2, Deepesh Devendran 4-0-25-1, Khilan Patel 4-0-25-1, Kanishk Chouhan 4-0-36-2.
India U-19s: Ayush Mhatre c Ninduwara b Nimsara 7, Vaibhav Suryavanshi c Dinsara b Nimsara 9, Aaron George (not out) 58, Vihaan Malhotra (not out) 61; Extras: (W4) 4. Total: (For two wickets in 18 overs) 139.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-25.
Bowling: Sethmika Seneviratne 3-0-23-0, Rasith Nimsara 4-0-31-2, Viran Chamuditha 4-0-20-0, Kavija Gamage 3-0-23-0, Vigneshwaran Akash 3-0-23-0, Dulnith Sigera 1-0-19-0.
