Karachi, July 22: Sri Lanka scored a relatively easy win overBangladesh to cruise into the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup CricketTournament at the National Stadium here on Saturday
23-Jul-2000Karachi, July 22: Sri Lanka scored a relatively easy win overBangladesh to cruise into the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup CricketTournament at the National Stadium here on Saturday.The islanders’ opponents for Tuesday’s final will be decided tomorrowwhen hosts Pakistan face the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) in thesecond semi-final.Sri Lanka, who were sent in by Bangladesh skipper Nafees Iqbal, builttheir score of 214 around a solid opening stand of 71 between IshanMutalip (36 off 82 balls with four fours) and the left-handed HareshRatnayake (32 off 60 balls with two fours).The impetus to the Sri Lankan innings was provided by Man-of-the-MatchJeewan Mendis, who made 42 off 41 deliveries with four boundaries.Mendis and all-rounder Prasad Ranawaka (28 off 21 balls with threefours) were involved in a sixth-wicket partnership of 50 in 36 ballsas the final 10 overs of the innings realized 87 runs.Bangladesh, in reply, made a decent start as they reached 113 forthree in the 29th over. However, fine bowling by Sri Lankan skipperJehan Jayasiriya, who captured three for 36 with his off-spinners, anda spate of run outs resulted in Bangladesh losing their last sixwickets for 49 runs.Diminutive opener Mohammad Ashraful was impressive as he stroked hisway to 48 off 88 balls before he was fourth out. His knock includedjust one boundary.Ashraful and Nasiruddin Faruque (30 off 55 balls with four fours) puton 61 for the third wicket.The only other notable scorer for the losers was all-rounder SharifulIslam with 32 off 40 balls