India lifts Under-19s Asia Cup title beating Sri Lanka

India on 23 December 2016 won the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup title. In the final played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, India defeated hosts Sri Lanka by 34 runs.

Opting first after winning the toss, India Under-19s team posted a competitive score of 273 runs for a loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs. In reply to it, the Sri Lankan side was bowled out for a score of 239 in 48.4 overs.

Foundation of India’s total was based on the first five batsman, especially due to the score of 71 and 70 by Himanshu Rana and Shubham Gill respectively. Later, the fine bowling efforts by Indian spinners helped the Indian side in dismissing the Under-19 team of Sri Lanka and clinch the trophy.

Skipper Abhishek 4 for 37 produced a fine display of slow left-arm orthodox bowling and was assisted ably by leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, who returned with impressive figures of three for 22 from his quota of 10 overs to dismantle the Lankans.
For Sri Lankan Under-19s team, pacer Nipun Ransika and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama took three wickets each.

Man of the Match: Abhishek Sharma (India Under-19s)

Player of the series: HJ Rana (India Under-19s)

Youth ODI debuts: KL Nagarkoti, RD Chahar and HJ Patel (India Under-19s)

2016 Under-19s Asia Cup

The 2016 Under-19s Asia Cup was an international cricket tournament that was held in Sri Lanka from 15 to 23 December 2016. It formed part of the qualification process for the 2018 Under-19 World Cup.

The tournament saw the participation of eight teams of which six Asian teams that were part of the 2016 Under-19s World Cup. The other two teams were from the 2016 Asia Division Two event.