Cricket: India U-19 lift Youth Asia Cup after defeating Sri Lanka by 34 runs

India defeated Sri Lanka by 34 runs in U-19 Youth Asia Cup 2016 to lift the trophy in Colombo on Friday.

India was defending the score of 273 runs and managed to get Sri Lanka all-out on 239 runs.

In batting department, India was guided by Himanshu Rana and Shubhnam Gill to reach a respectable total of 273. 

In bowling department, Indian spinners got better of Sri Lankan batsmen and picked wickets when the host were cruising on 158 for 2.

For India, skipper Abhishek Sharma played a major role in the win with his spell of 4/37

Opting to bat after winning the toss, India Under-19 posted a competitive 273 for eight in their 50 overs and then rode on its spinners fine bowling effort to bowl out SriLanka Under-19 to 239 in 48.4 overs at the R Premadasa Stadium.     

The first five batsmen, especially Himanshu Rana (71 off 790 and one-down Shubman Gill (70 off 92), were instrumental in laying the foundation for India's total, which in the end turned out to be too much for the islanders to overwhelm.     

After opener Prithvi Shaw's (39) dismissal at the team score of 67, Rana and Gill added 88 runs for the second wicket to take India's innings forward.     

Later, skipper Abhishek Sharma (29), middle-order batsmanSalman Khan (26) and tailender Kamlesh Nagarkoti (23) too played useful hand to help India's cause.     

For Sri Lanka Under-19s, pacer Nipun Ransika (3/50) and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama (3/53) shared six wickets between them.   Chasing 274 runs for win, Sri Lanka Under-19 lost opener Vishva Chathuranga (13) early before Reven Kelly (62) and Hasitha Boyagoda (37) stabilised their chase with a 78-runsecond wicket stand.   

 Skipper Kamindu Mendis (53) also made half-century for the Lankans in the losing cause. The hosts at one stage were in control of the chase at 196 for four in 37.4 overs before they lost wickets at a heap to lose hold of the match.     

The Lankans lost the plot in the last 10 overs as their last six batsmen could contribute just 43 runs. Skipper Abhishek (4/37) produced a fine display of slow left-arm orthodox bowling and was assisted ably by leg-spinnerRahul Chahar, who returned with impressive figures of three for 22 from his quota of 10 overs to dismantle the Lankans.     

(With Inputs from PTI)