AGENCIES

India hammered Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup to seal their eighth title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Riding on a fine unbeaten 56 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, India gunned down the 102-run target in just 22 overs to seal a crushing win against Sri Lanka.

It became a 38-over-a-side contest when play resumed with Sri Lanka limping to 106 for nine. India were set a revised 102-run target in 38 overs via the DLS method which they reached rather comfortably in 21.3 overs with opener Raghuvanshi scoring an unbeaten 56 off 67 balls. India’s only loss in the competition came against arch-rivals Pakistan who lost to Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

The tournament provided valuable game time for the Yash Dhull-led side ahead of the U-19 World Cup, beginning in the West Indies from January 14. After the tournament’s leading scorer Harnoor Singh departed cheaply in the chase, Raghuvanshi played sensibly alongside Shaik Rasheed (31 not out off 49) to get the job done.

Earlier, Indian bowlers came up with a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Sri Lanka to 106/9. In the last eight editions of the U-19 Asia Cup before this, India had won the title seven times.