U19 WC: India beat defending champs Bangladesh, to face Aus in semis

Antigua: India beat defending champions Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the ICC U19 World Cup quarterfinal to set up a semi-final clash with Australia as they chased down 112 runs target with 115 balls to spare here on Saturday.

Kaushal Tambe (11 no) scored the winning runs for the team by cracking a six off left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan as India cruised to a comfortable victory.

With this win, India also avenged the 2020 U19 World Cup final loss to Bangladesh.

Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar (3/14) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44) starred for India in this knockout match win.

The Indian fans would have expected their team to finish off a lot quicker, but India raced past the target in 30.5 overs. The chase was never going to be tough, especially on a track which got better as the sun climbed up.

The Bangladeshi new ball bowlers kept a tight leash. Raghuvanshi and Shaik Rasheed took their sweet time to settle in and raised the tempo after the end of first power play.

But Ripon Mondal gave some hope to Bangladesh by picking up four wickets in quick time. But But Yash Dhull and Tambe dug in and dealt in singles, but the Indian skipper never missed an opportunity to score exquisite boundaries on offer.

India now will take on Australia in the super league semi-finals on the same ground.

Chasing the target, India suffered an early blow with Tanzim Hasan Sakib striking in his first over. Opener Harnoor Singh (0) edged a back of length delivery pitched outside off straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Mohammad Fahim.

Both Raghuvanshi and Rasheed scripted a 70 runs partnership for the second wicket, before Ripon scalped Raghuvanshi, after he failed to get elevation and hit the ball straight to the point fielder.

Ripon got rid of set Rasheed for 26 in the very first ball of his next over as he was on a hat-trick. Fahim took a comfortable catch behind the stumps of an outside edge.

India were then 75 for 3 after 21.1 overs. Ripon struck again by sending back Siddarth Yadav (6), who tried to go after the Bangladeshi bowler but hit the ball straight to Iftakher Hossain at extra-cover.

India were then 4 down and needed 30 more runs to win. Dhull walked in and soon got into the act. He showed urgency as he cracked three boundaries in an over off Tanzim Hasan, quickly taking the score to 97 for 4 in 25 overs.

Ripon got his fourth scalp and prized wicket of Raj Bawa, who gave a catch of his glove to Fahim down the leg side. India crossed the line with a towering six by Tambe. (UNI)

(Photo Credit: Twitter/BCCI)