India colts crushed Sri Lanka by 144 runs to bag the Under-19 Asia Cup 2018 title at the Shere Bangla National stadium on Sunday. This was also India’s sixth U-19 Asia Cup title after winning the tournament earlier in 1989, 2003, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Victory also enabled them to match the feat of the Rohit sharma-led side that emerged triumphant in the UAE last month.
Opting to bat first, good contributions from the top and middle order helped India put a challenging 304/3 in 50 overs. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (85) and Anuj Rawat (57) took India to a flying start as they added 121 runs in 25.1 overs. After Anuj's fall, Devdutt Padikkal chipped in with 31 runs. Yashasvi was the next to be dismissed in the 38th over as Indian scorecard read 180/2 and was followed by Padikkal 14 runs later.
However, captain Prabh-Simran Singh and Ayush Badoni remained unbeaten on 65 and 52 runs respectively as India put a decent target on board. In reply, Sri Lanka were off to a disastrous start and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, thanks to leftarm spinner Harsh Tyagi’s haul of 6/38.
Sri Lanka never looked in control as other than Nishan Madushka (49) and Navod Paranavithana (48), all other batsman failed to put up a show against a lethal Indian bowling attack. Sri Lanka could only manage to reach 160 runs as the entire team collapsed like a pack of cards, facing only 39 overs.
Brief scores India U19- 304/3 in 50 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 85, PrabhSimran Singh 65 not out; Dulith Wellalage 1/24) beat Sri Lanka U19 160 all out in 38.4 overs (Nishan Madushka 49, Navod Paranavithana 48; Harsh Tyagi 6/38) by 144 runs.
