Sri Lanka A book semi-finals spot in Doha

Doha, Qatar: Sri Lanka A booked their place in the semi finals of the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 Tournament with a thrilling six run win over Banglades...

Doha, Qatar: Sri Lanka A booked their place in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 Tournament with a thrilling six-run win over Bangladesh A at the West End Park Stadium yesterday.

Chasing 160, Bangladesh received a decent start from Habibur Rahman Sohan. Sohan was out lbw off Traveen Mathew for 27 and Sri Lanka captain Dunith Wellalage then impressed by taking three wickets, including Jishan Alam (17), Akbar Ali (25) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (8). Wellalage finished with figures of 3 for 19, leading the bowlers who did well to keep Bangladesh A batsmen under pressure. No.3 batsman Zawad Abrar contributed 26 runs, but the required run rate kept climbing.

Bangladesh A went into the final over needing 18. Milan Rathnayake’s 20th over saw plenty of drama. It began with a dropped catch of Yasir Ali, S M Meherob hit a six off the next delivery and Rathnayake gave away two wides in the next. Two successive leg-byes left Bangladesh needing seven off the last two balls, but Rathnayake held firm with a dot ball before trapping Yasir Ali lbw in the last ball of the innings for 20.

Earlier, Sahan Arachchige top-scored for Sri Lanka A with a well-crafted 69 off 49. He hit five boundaries and three sixes, also compiling a 52-run stand with Wellalage (23). Sri Lanka scored 159, losing 7 wickets as Ripon Mondol and Abu Haider took two wickets each.

The result took Sri Lanka A to four points as they edged defending champions Afghanistan A on net run rate. Bangladesh A topped Group A and will meet India A in tomorrow’s 12.30pm semi-final, while Sri Lanka A face unbeaten Pakistan Shaheens at 5.30pm.