U19 Asia Cup: India Beat Sri Lanka to Enter Final
India’s Under-19 team stormed into the final of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup after defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the semi-final played in Dubai. The match was reduced to 20 overs per side due to rain, but India showed composure and control to chase down the revised target without difficulty.
Sri Lanka batted first and posted 138 for 8 in their allotted overs. Their innings lacked sustained partnerships as India’s bowlers maintained tight lines and controlled the scoring rate through the middle overs. Despite a few late runs, Sri Lanka were restricted to a total that remained within India’s reach.
Malhotra and George anchor the run chase
India’s chase began steadily, with early wickets failing to disrupt the momentum. Vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George took charge of the innings, stitching together an unbeaten partnership that ensured there were no further setbacks. Malhotra played the aggressor’s role, scoring a fluent half-century, while George provided stability at the other end with a composed knock.
The duo paced the chase well, rotating strike consistently and capitalising on loose deliveries. India reached the target in 18 overs, finishing the contest with eight wickets in hand and underlining their dominance in the knockout match.
Final clash against Pakistan confirmed
With this win, India have set up a much-anticipated final against Pakistan, who advanced after winning the second semi-final against Bangladesh. The final is scheduled to be played on Sunday and is expected to draw significant attention given the long-standing rivalry between the two sides at junior and senior levels.
India will enter the final with confidence after a clinical semi-final performance, while Pakistan too arrive in strong form, setting the stage for a competitive title clash.
