India U19 defeated Sri Lanka U19 comfortably by eight wickets with 12 balls to spare in the first semi-final to qualify for the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025, despite failures from two big names, Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra stole the show with unbeaten fifty-plus scores to guide India to victory.
India U19 won the toss and opted to field first. The Indian bowlers maintained pressure from the beginning and struck thrice within the first six overs. Chamika Heenatigala and captain Vimath Dinsara then added 45 runs off 36 balls to provide some stability to the Sri Lankan innings.
Heenatigala later stitched another good partnership of 52 runs with Sethmika Seneviratne to take Sri Lanka U19 to a respectable total of 138/8. Heenatigala was the top scorer for Sri Lanka U19 with 42 off 38 balls, including three fours, while Dinsara scored 32 off 29 balls, including four fours. Henil Patel and Kanishk Chouhan picked up two wickets each for India U19.
In reply, India U19 were under immense pressure after losing their two star batters, Mhatre and Suryavanshi, with the score at just 25. However, George and Malhotra were superb. The duo stitched an unbeaten partnership of 114 runs off 87 balls to guide India U19 to victory.
George played a sensible innings, scoring an unbeaten 58 off 49 balls, including four fours and a six. Malhotra also showed maturity, scoring 61 off 45 balls, including four fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 135.56. Both were adjudged Player of the Match.
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