Bangladesh pacer Maruf Mridha and top-order batter Ariful Islam showcased standout performances to help their side beat India by four wickets in the second semifinal of the Under-19 Asia at the ICC Cricket Academy in UAE on Friday to cement their berth in the final.
Maruf scalped four wickets by giving away only 41 runs which bundled India out for a meagre 188 after Bangladesh opted to field first, and later Ariful spearheaded the chase, scoring a 90-ball 94 comprised with nine fours and four maximums.
Bangladesh will now take on United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final of youth Asia Cup on Sunday. UAE stunned Pakistan Under-19 team in the other semifinal by 11 runs today to confirm the final.
Ariful got ably support from Ahrar Amin as they shared a 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket to edge the side closer to victory.
As he closed in on century, medium pacer Raj Limbani had Ariful caught by Shahran to deny him the century by six runs. But Ariful who smashed nine fours and four sixes, including three sixes in an over of Saumy Pandey by then kept the side's nose ahead.
Ahrar Amin played a laborious 44 off 101 with three fours and was out when Bangladesh was just two runs away from the victory.
Earlier being sent to bat first, India were strangled by Maruf and were reduced to 61-6. Murugan Abhishek and Musheer Khan added 84-run for the seventh wicket to help the side recover from the ultimate shamble.
Abhishek hit 74 ball-62 with six fours and two sixes while Musheer made 50 off 61, sending the ball across the ropes for three times.
