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Bangladesh out wit Lanka: Final against India today

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February 24, 2001 

(Bangla2000)--Bangladesh outplayed the islanders by five wickets at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Thursday to reach the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament.

Sri Lanka had eliminated Bangladesh in the semi-final of the first version of the tournament in Pakistan last year.

The hosts will encounter title aspirant India in the final on Saturday as the latter stormed into the final beating their old foe Pakistan by 77 runs at BKSP on the day.

The final battle will be live telecast by Bangladesh Television while Bangladesh Betar broadcast running commentary of the match from Bangabandhu National Stadium from 9:30 AM.

Bangladesh captain Nafis Iqbal, who played an important innings of 36 runs with two explosive sixes in chasing a paltry total, is confident to win the final in the home soil as the victory against Sri Lanka boosted their morale.

Sri Lankan manager Ashley de Silva pointed that his team started very well after deciding to bat first but the innings got wrapped up with only 140 runs in 34.5 overs because of two runouts in the middle of the innings.

But he praised the local boys' brilliant fielding effort in the day's semi-final. Bangladesh's Sri Lankan coach Malcom Perera also gave credit to his team fielding for the victory.

Bangladeshi bowler Shariful Islam failed to satisfy the man of the match adjudicator Rafiqul Alam to gain the award but many think that his three-wicket haul played the key role to restrict the opposition.

Two Sri Lankan openers Tharanga and Gunawardana made a perfect start for coin favoured team. But Tharanga offered a catch to wicket keeper Hasibul Haq off Shariful making 19 runs from 25 balls.

Gunawardana and Indika also did a good job but Shafiul bowled out Gunawardana, who scored team highest 44 runs off 56 deliveries that featured three fours and a six.

The Sri Lanka scoreboard read 94 runs for three when G de Silva fell victim of runout by a spectacular direct throw off Ashraful from mid-on.

One down Indika (25) returned to the pavilion within six runs giving a catch to the wicketkeeper off Shariful and after his dismissal the holders lost their remaining six wickets within 38 runs.

Shariful wrecked the top order and finished as the most successful bowler for Bangladesh claiming three wickets for 42 runs in 8 overs while Manzarul Islam Rana took two wickets for 13 runs.

Chasing the poor total, Bangladesh reached the target making 144 rusn for five wickets in 37.2 overs riding on a 55-run knock by Jahurul Islam.

Luck-favoured Jahurul, who was promoted in the batting order to open the innings, remained unbeaten with 55 runs off 112 balls with three boundaries to become man of the match. But the opener struggled throughout the innings.

Promising opener Mohammed Ashraful once again failed to keep his temperament but he played three excellent boundaries in his short 22 runs innings off 28 balls.

Captain Nafis Iqbal and Jahurul Islam denied any quick damage for the host contributing 69 runs in the second wicket stand.

Right-handed Nafis looked very impressive playing two superb sixes against spinners Nishan and Ratnayaka but he was caught at long-off by Tharanga off spinner Nishan. His 36 runs came from 53 balls that included a boundary and two sixes. Nishan captured two wickets for 47 runs.