Team India storms into U19 Asia Cup Final

Opening batter Vaibhav Suryawanshi starred with a consecutive half-century to help his team into the U-19 Asia Cup Final as they beat Sri Lanka U19 by seven wickets in Sharjah.

The 13-year-old batter became the youngest cricketer ever to be brought in the IPL Auction. He smashed 67 off 36, including six fours and five sixes helping his team chase the target with 170 balls to spare.

India will lock horns with Bangladesh in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Bangladesh U-19 also defeated Pakistan U-19 by seven wickets as they chased the target of 117 in 22.1 overs quite comfortably. The surprising thing is that both the sides Pakistan U-19 and Sri Lanka U-19 won all their league games but they won't be playing the Final now. India U-19 started their campaign with a defeat against Pakistan U-19 by 43 runs but bounced back in style to storm into the Finals. 

Sri Lanka U-19 opted to bat first but managed to score 173 in 46.2 overs even after contributions from Lakvin Abeysinghe (69 off 110) and Sharujan Shanmuganathan (42 off 78). Indian bowlers were in full control as Chetan Sharma 3 for 34, Kiran Chormale 2 for 32 and Ayush Mhatre (2 for 37) restricted Sri Lanka U-19 to 176.

Ayush Mhatre shined with the bat as well as he scored 34 off 28 and added 91 runs for the opening stand with Vaibhav Suryawanshi. Vaibhav went berserk behind the Sri Lankan bowlers as he started with back-to-back sixes and a boundary off Sigera who gave away 31 runs in his opening over.

 Vihas Thewmika gave Sri Lanka the first breakthrough as he dismissed Ayush Mhatre for 34. But Vaibhav Suryawanshi kept batting with C Andre Siddharth who scored 22 off 27. Vaibhav was dismissed by Praveen Maneesha for 67 off 36 balls.

Skipper Mohamed Amaan 25*(26) and KP Karthikeya 11*(14) completed the chase in 21.4 overs.