U-19 World Cup: Pacer wreaks havoc as India oust Bangladesh to enter semifinals

Coolidge (Antigua): Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar bowled a sensational opening spell as India’s ‘class of 2022’ exacted a sweet revenge on Bangladesh, knocking out the defending champions by five wickets to enter the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup here.

In the last edition of the tournament, India lost to Bangladesh in the title clash.

Four-time champions India will meet Australia in their semifinal on February 2, having won an unprecedented seven out of their nine U-19 World Cup quarterfinals.

Son of a CRPF personnel, the Uttar Pradesh-born Ravi, who has followed in the footsteps of his illustrious state senior Mohammed Shami to ply his trade for Bengal, ended with excellent figures of 7-1-14-3 on a tacky track as Bangladesh were all out for 111 in 37.1 overs on Saturday.

Bangladesh were 56 for seven at one stage before SM Mehrob (30) and Ashiqur Zaman (16) added 50 runs for the eighth wicket to take the team past 100-run mark. In reply, India chased down the target in 30.5 overs with opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 44 being the top score.

Skipper Yash Dhull made 20 not out and his deputy Shaik Rasheed contributed 26. The victory was even more satisfying considering the youngsters came back without any training post recovery from COVID-19.

It was a fitting reply from the ‘Boys in Blue’ to the ‘Tiger Cubs’ after their predecessors lost an illtempered final of the 2020 edition, which was followed by boorish behaviour from both sides, especially the Bangladeshis, whose reactions have always been over the top when it came to beating India.

For the current batch, the win was also necessary after they were beaten twice by this same side last year during a four-nation meet in Kolkata.

India won a good toss and Ravi made full use of the moisture underneath, with initial movement in the air helping the team’s cause. –(PTI)