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Showing posts from December, 2021

My final report on Asian Cricket Council website: India produces a sterling performance to outplay Sri Lanka and emerge champions

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By K.R. Nayar  Defending champions India, through a dominant performance, lifted the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup for the eighth time. In the final of the ninth edition of the tournament held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India recorded an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a rain-affected match for their third consecutive title triumph. Sri Lanka was restricted to 106 for 9 and India chased the DLS revised target of 102 run in 21.3 overs. India’s left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal, who produced a deadly spell of three wickets for 11 runs from his eight overs to restrict Sri Lanka, was adjudged the Player of the Final.   The victorious Indian team. Photo: ACC Indian opener Harnoor Singh, who piled up 251 runs from the tournament, won the Player of the Tournament award. In the final match, it was Singh’s opening partner Angkrish Raghuvanshi who sparkled to crack an unbeaten 56 off 67 balls with seven boundaries, while one-drop batsman Shaik Rasheed chip...

My semifinal report on Asian Cricket Council website: India and Sri Lanka to clash in the final for the ninth ACC Under-19 Asia Cup title

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  By K.R. Nayar India, who are the defending champions of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, outplayed ICC Under-19 World Cup champions Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium while Sri Lanka produced a spirited show to stop Pakistan at the ICC Academy Ground. For India, it was an easy semifinal as they recorded a 103-runs victory but Sri Lanka had to fight hard defending a small total to pull off an exciting 22-runs victory. The architect of India’s victory was Shaik Rashid who cracked an unbeaten 90 off 108 balls with three boundaries and a six. He steered India to an impressive total of 243 for 8 in 50 overs. India's bowlers struck repeatedly refusing Group B table-toppers Bangladesh to get back into the game and restrict them to 140 in 38.2 overs. India had finished second in Group A after losing to Group A table-toppers Pakistan.  Incidentally, the two teams that have reached the final are those who finished second in their respective groups. Sri Lanka had finished second fro...

My semifinal preview on Asian Cricket Council website: Stage set for an intense battle in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup semifinals

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By K.R. Nayar  After six days of intense contests by the cream of Asia’s finest Under-19 cricketers, the stage is set for the semifinals of the ninth edition of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. Pakistan and Bangladesh have topped their respective groups. It was an unbeaten run for Pakistan in Group A beating Afghanistan, India and UAE. Bangladesh topped Group B beating Kuwait and Nepal for a higher run rate than Sri Lanka, who finished second. The clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to decide the table toppers had to called off on Tuesday following two officials being tested positive.  In the semifinal on Thursday (December 30), Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka at the ICC Academy ground while Bangladesh will meet second placed India who had lost to Pakistan in their group match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The close contests among these four Test playing nations in the group stage clashes could result in an intense battle for a slot in the final to be held on Friday December ...

My sixth day’s report on Asian Cricket Council website: Kuwait skipper Bhavsar’s scintillating ton stuns Nepal while Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match called off

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By K.R. Nayar Kuwait skipper Meet Bhavsar played a stupendous unbeaten knock of 175 to single-handedly carry his team on his shoulders to a thrilling one-wicket win over Nepal on the sixth day of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy Ground 2.   Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium had to be called off following two officials being tested positive for Covid-19. Bhavsar wiped away the gloom of their previous losses through his knock that came off 149 balls studded with 24 boundaries and one six.  Kuwait vs Nepal at ICC Academy Ground 2 Bhavsar’s century lifts Kuwait to a stunning win over Nepal Kuwait’s opener and skipper Meet Bhavsar met the challenge of chasing Nepal’s total of 239 with tremendous verve and a fine display of concentration and strength. The enormity of his knock can be gauged from the fact that except for one batsman in his team none of the others even reached double figures. With wickets falling at...

My fifth day's report on Asian Cricket Council website: India and Pakistan register hard-fought victories to reach semifinals

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By K.R. Nayar India and Pakistan registered hard-fought victories on the fifth day of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup at the ICC grounds to book their places in the semifinal. India pulled off a four-wicket victory after overcoming a strong challenge from Afghanistan with just ten balls to spare. Pakistan extended their unbeaten run to stop host UAE’s challenge by 21 runs and finish at the top of the group. They will now take on the loser of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match on December 30 at the ICC Academy in the semifinal while India will meet the winner of that match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on the same day. India hold their nerves to down Afghanistan  Stubborn knocks from openers Harnoor Singh (64) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (35) and unbeaten knocks from Rajangad Bawa (43n.o) and Kaushal Tambe (35n.o) under tremendous pressure ensured India a hard-fought four-wicket win over Afghanistan with ten balls to spare. It was a nerve-wrecking chase for India towards the target after ...