ACC EMERGING TEAMS ASIA CUP 2023
By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka A trounced Oman A by a massive 217 runs to sweep into the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Asia Cup Tournament yesterday at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. Accordingly, Sri Lanka topping Group A will meet Pakistan A in the first semi-final on Friday July 21 at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium at 10 a.m. while Bangladesh A which knocked out Afghanistan A by 21 runs yesterday at the Saravanamuththu Stadium, to take second billing in Group A, will take on India A table leaders of Group B in the second semi-final at the same day at the Premadasa Stadium at 2 p.m. on Friday.
In the Sri Lanka A-Oman A fixture, the Lankans, put into bat, posted 259 for 8 in 50 overs and bundled out Oman A for 42 in 17.2 overs. Pasindu Sooriyabandara top scored for the Lankans with 69 off 75 balls hitting 5 boundaries to take the Player of the Match award.. Other contributors were Sahan Arachchige who made 48 off 63 (1×4), Lasith Croospulle 42 off 49 (7×4, 1×6), Avishka Fernando 25 off 38 (3×4), skipper Dunith Wellalage unbeaten on a run a ball 21 (1×4), Chamika Karunaratne 20 off 14 (2×6) and Ashen Bandara 11.
Aqib Ilyas was the pick of the Bangladesh A bowlers claiming 4 for 58.
Oman’s batting came apart with Chamika Karunaratne claiming 3 for 3 off 2 overs, Pramod Madushan 2w for 6 and Dunith Wellalage 2 for 10.
Meanwhile, Bangladseh A which did not have the best of starts in the tournament having lost to Sri Lanka A in their opener, came back strongly to knock out high riding Afghanistan A to keep their cup hopes alive.
In a high scoring game, Bangladesh A rattled up 308 for 7 off 50 overs 8 with Mohamudul Hasan Joy scoring 100 off 114 inclusive of 12 boundaries and 2 sixes. Afghanistan made 287 for 8 off 50. Hasan Joy took the Player of the Match award.
CHIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka A beat Oman A by 217 runs at R. Premadasa International Stadium
Sri Lanka A 259/8 (50 Overs)
(Pasindu Sooriyabandara 60 75, 5, Lasith Croospulle 42 (49) 7 1, Sahan Arachchige 48 63 1, Avishka Fernando 25 38 3, Dunith Wellalage n.o. 21 1, ChamikaKarunaratne 20 14 2, Ashen Bandara 11, Aqib Ilyas 4/58, Ayaan Khan 2/39, Jay Odedra 2/44)
Oman A 42 (17.1 Overs)
Kashyap Prajapati 18 25, Suraj Kumar 10, Chamika Karunaratne 3/3 2, Pramod Madushan 2/6, Dunith Wellalage 2/10)
Bangladesh A beat Afghanistan A by 21 runs at P. Saravanamuththu International Stadium
Bangladesh A 308/7 (50 Overs)
(Mahmudul Hasan Joy 100 114, Riaz Hassan 78, Bahir Shah n.o. 53 50 3, Noor Ali 44 57 5, Shahidullah 44 47 3 1, Izharulhaq Naveed 15, Sharafuddin Ashraf 14, Zubaid Akbari 10, Mohammad Saleem 4/65, Zia-ur-Rehman 1/41, Izharulhaq Naveed 1/59)
Afghanistan A 287/8 (50 Overs)
(Riaz Hasan 78 105 7 2, Bahir Shah n.o. 53 50 3 , Shahidullah 44 47 3 1, noor ali zadran 44 57 5, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 3/67, Rakibul Hasan 2/30, Soumya Sarkar 2/61) won by 21 runs
