Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first in the second semifinal of the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, which took place today at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai.
Bangladesh enters the game after putting on a strong performance throughout the group round, winning all three games. Their biggest victory in the competition came against Japan, when their bowlers went through the Japanese batting unit, knocking them out for 99 runs. They eventually chased the score down in 12 overs, with nine wickets to spare.
Ashiqur Rahman has been their standout batsman, leading the tournament batting chart with 242 runs in three games while averaging 242, including two fifties and a century. Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby leads the bowling attack with eight wickets in three games at an average of 10.12. Bangladesh will try to extend their unbeaten streak in order to reach the finals.
Meanwhile, India enters the competition on the strength of Raj Limbani’s exploits over Nepal in the previous round. They not only won the game, but did it in spectacular fashion, winning by a thumping 10-wicket margin thanks to a superb bowling burst by Limbani, who took 7/13 in 9.1 overs. They did lose to Pakistan, but they also defeated the other two teams and advanced to the semi-finals. Arshin Kulkani has been their go-to batsman, scoring 137 runs in three innings with an average of 137, while Adarsh Singh has scored 89 runs in three innings with an average of 44.50.
In the bowling department, it was all about Raj Limbani, who held the key for India, picking up 10 wickets in three innings at an average of 10.30, including one seven-fer. India will try to extend its winning streak into the semi-finals.