Dubai: Defending champions Bangladesh joined Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 on Monday with respective wins from Group B, while hosts Afghanistan and Nepal lost.
Sri Lanka recorded a hard-fought two-wicket win over Afghanistan in a low-scoring thriller in the seventh match of the eight-team event at the ICC Academy here.
Opting to bat first, the hosts managed to amass 235 runs before being bowled out in 49.5 overs despite opener Usman Sadat’s anchoring half-century.
Osman, who was overseeing Afghanistan’s innings, scored 52 runs off 87 balls until he was killed off by Samika Heinadikala in the 34th over.
Apart from him, Faisal Shinozada and Azizullah Miyagil could make significant contributions to Afghanistan’s total with 39 and 31 respectively.
For Sri Lanka, Setmika Senaviratne and Dulnith Chikera took 3 wickets each and Rashid Nimsara and Samika Heenathikala took 2 wickets each.
In reply, Sri Lanka won in 49.2 overs for the loss of 8 wickets chasing a simple target of 236 runs.
Opener Viran Samuditha was the top scorer for the Lions with 62 off 83 balls, but all-rounder Heenadikala made an unbeaten 51 off 57 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Nuristani Omarzai bowled well for Afghanistan with 3 wickets for 52 runs in 10 overs, while Wahidullah Sadran, Salam Khan, Ruhullah Arab and Usairullah Niazhai claimed one wicket each.
A combined bowling effort, followed by Jawad Abrar’s unbeaten half-century, powered Bangladesh to a resounding seven-wicket win over Nepal in another Group B match at the Sevens Stadium here.
Batting first, Nepal scored 130 runs in 31.1 overs.
All-rounder Abhishek Tiwary was the top scorer with 30 runs, followed by wicket-keeper batsman Ashish Luhar with 23 runs. The two shared a crucial 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket, which took their total past 100 runs.
Apart from them, only openers Sahil Patel (18) and Niraj Kumar Yadav (14) managed to score double centuries.
Bangladesh bowlers MD Chobhuj took three wickets while Shahriar Ahmed, Saad Islam and Azizul Hakeem took two wickets each.
Chasing the target of 131 runs, Bangladesh were chasing with 3 wickets and 151 balls to spare.
Opener Jawad led them with an unbeaten 70 off 68 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
He was supported by middle-order batsman Kalam Siddiqui who scored 34 runs off 66 balls as the duo put on 92 runs for the third wicket.
Yuvraj Khatri and Tiwari took one wicket each for Nepal.
Following the second Group B match day, Sri Lanka remain at the top with four points from two matches, ahead of second-placed Bangladesh thanks to a superior net run rate.
In the final match of Group B on Wednesday, semi-finalists Sri Lanka and Bangladesh face each other, while Afghanistan and Nepal will battle it out for a consolation win.