The Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team has officially qualified for the semifinals of the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup following Sri Lanka’s victory over Afghanistan in a closely contested Group A match in Dubai.
Sri Lanka’s two-wicket win against Afghanistan ensured that both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka finished as the top two teams in the group, confirming their places in the last four of the tournament. Afghanistan, meanwhile, has been knocked out after suffering back-to-back narrow defeats.
How Bangladesh Secured Semifinal Qualification
Bangladesh’s place in the semifinals was sealed due to their strong performance earlier in the group stage. The young Tigers registered:
- A seven-wicket win over Nepal, and
- A hard-fought three-wicket victory against Afghanistan
These results put Bangladesh in a strong position even before the Sri Lanka–Afghanistan encounter, which ultimately worked in their favour.
Sri Lanka Edge Past Afghanistan in Thriller
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a competitive 235 runs in 50 overs. Sri Lanka chased down the target successfully, reaching 238/8 with four balls remaining.
Key contributions came from:
- Viran Chamuditha, who scored a vital 62 runs, and
- Chamika Heenatigala, who remained unbeaten on 51, guiding Sri Lanka home under pressure.
The win not only knocked Afghanistan out of the tournament but also confirmed Sri Lanka’s semifinal berth.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Clash to Decide Group Topper
Although both teams have qualified, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face each other in their final group match to determine the Group A topper, which could play a crucial role in semifinal matchups.
With confidence high and momentum on their side, Bangladesh will look to continue their impressive run in the tournament as they prepare for the knockout stage.
