Sarfaraz stars in India’s emphatic title win

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Sarfaraz Khan scored a quick-fire 59 and remained undefeated as India crossed the finish line in just 13.3 overs.

Continuing its dominance, India thumped Bangladesh by seven wickets in the final to win the under-19 one-day cricket tri-series crown here at the Jadavpur university Salt Lake Campus ground on Sunday.

Sarfaraz Khan scored a quick-fire 59 and remained undefeated as India crossed the finish line in just 13.3 overs after its bowlers had restricted the visitors to a modest 116 (in 36.5 overs).

India won all its five matches in the series to claim the title in style.

After deciding to bat, Bangladesh started faltering from the very start against a disciplined Indian bowling. The left-arm spinners Mayank Dagar and Mahipal Lomror rattled the Bangladesh top and middle order.

After losing two early wickets, Bangladesh was on the road to recovery when Njmul Shanto (45) and Joyraj Imon (28) added 54 runs. However, Subham Mavi picked up Imon in the 19th over and Dagar clean bowled Shanto in the next over to make it 68 for four. Then the visitors completely lost their way to fold up for 116.

Three quick wickets

India started the chase well but lost three wickets between the fifth and the seventh overs. Openers Rishabh Pant (26) — who was named the ‘man of the tournament’ for being the most prolific batsman with an aggregate of 282 runs — and Washington (12) stitched a 38-run stand for opening wicket. But the two departed playing loose shots and were joined in the pavilion by Amandeep Khare (0) soon after.

Sarfaraz Khan joined captain Ricky Bhui for the fourth wicket to resurrect the innings. Sarfaraz raced to 51 off 23 balls with a glut of boundaries to notch up the quickest half-century of the tournament.

Man of the match Sarfaraz (59 n.o., 27b, 9x4, 3x6) was most severe against the Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shawon Gazi, who conceded 35 in two overs. The unfinished fourth-wicket partnership was worth 75 as Bhui made 20.

India travels to Sri Lanka later this week to play another tri-series, which features England as the third team.

The scores:

Bangladesh: Mohammad Saif Hassan b Ahmed 8, Pinak Ghosh run out 2, Joyraj Sheik Imon c Washington b Mavi28, Mohammad Najmul Hossain Shanto b Dagar 45, Mohammad Mehedy Hassan Miraz c Washington b Dagar 0, Jaker Ali Anik lbw b Lomror 24, Mohammad Shaifuddin lbw b Dagar 0, Saeed Sarker c Pant b Mavi 0, Rifat Pradhan c Bhui b Avesh Khan 0, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi c Kishan b Lomror 1, Mohammad Abdul Halim (not out) 2; Extras (lb-1, w-5): 6; Total (in 36.5 overs): 116.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-13, 3-67, 4-68, 5-96, 6-96, 7-113, 8-113, 9-114.

India bowling: Avesh Khan 5.5-2-18-1, Khaleel Ahmed 6-2-11-1, Washington Sundar 5-0-22-0, Mayank Dagar 9-0-32-3, Shubham Mavi 7-2-21-2, Mahipal Lomror 4-2-11-2.

India: Washington Sundar b Sarker 12, Rishabh Pantc Gazi b Miraz 26, Amandeep Khare c Miraz b Gazi 0, Ricky Bhui (not out) 20, Sarfaraz Khan (not out) 59; Extras: 0; Total (for three wkts. in 13.3 overs): 117.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-38, 3-42.

Bangladesh bowling: Saeed Sarker 3-0-23-1, Rifat Pradhan 2-0-15-0, Mohammad Mehedy Hassan Miraz 4-0-27-1, Saleh Ahmed Shawon Gazi 3-1-35-1, Mohammad Abdul Halim 1-0-16-0, Mohammad Najmul Hossain Shanto 0.3-0-1-0.

Man of the match: Sarfaraz Khan.

Man of the series: Rishabh Pant.