Pakistan U-19 secured their spot in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup after beating Bangladesh U-19 by two runs (via the Duckworth-Lewis method) in a tight encounter in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh posted 274 for 6 in the first innings, led by Pinak Ghosh‘s 82, but Pakistan’s Mohammad Taha kept Pakistan in the chase with his 97-ball 92. Rain was imminent in Kuala Lumpur and when rain stopped play in the 39th over – with Pakistan at 199 for 5 – they were marginally marginally ahead of the DLS par-score of 197.
Bangladesh were sent in to bat, but a fifty-run opening stand set them up well. Mohammad Naim was out for 14 in the ninth over, but his partner Ghosh, together with the captain Saif Hassan (61) put on 105 runs for the second wicket. Munir Riaz dismissed both set batsmen and finished with figures of 3 for 53. Bangladesh eventually finished on 274 courtesy Afif Hossain‘s 52 and a late surge from Nayeem Hasan (15-ball 22).
Pakistan lost their top three inside 11 overs, with the team struggling at 51 for 3, before Taha began the rescue act. Taha hit eight fours and three sixes in his innings of 92. He was assisted by useful middle-order knocks from wicketkeeper Rohail Nazar (26) and Saad Khan (35*). At 38.2 overs, Taha was dismissed by Qazi Onik (2-35), but their batsmen managed to add two more runs off the next four balls. Play stopped at the end of the 39th and never restarted, handing Pakistan the slender win. They will face the winner of the 2nd semi-final between Afghanistan and Nepal in the final on Sunday.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo