DOHA
Bangladesh A handed India A a shocking Super Over defeat to march into the final of Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 at West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha on Friday evening.
The Jitesh Sharma-led side was bowled out for 0 in the Super Over, and Bangladesh scored the winning run with a bit of a drama of a wide ball. Bangladesh will now await the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka which takes place at the same venue on Friday under floodlights.
Ripon Mondol’s heroics with the ball turned the game on its head in the Super Over for Bangladesh. He first dismissed Jitesh Sharma for no runs and followed it up by having the scalp of Ashutosh Sharma who went without scoring.
Chasing one run needed for the win, Bangladesh suffered a few hiccups with Yasir Ali going for a fancy finish of the first ball and ended up being caught at long-on off the bowling off Suyash Sharma.
The winning runs came in the form of a wide ball but not before its share of drama. Suyash Sharma bowled a googly down the leg side to Akbar Ali, who shuffled across to clip and missed it, India wicket keeper Jitesh Sharma had a chance to stump the batter with Ali overbalanced and clearly was out of his crease but the stumping chance went abegging and the umpire call of a wide came, which sent the the Bangladesh fans around the stadium into a wild frenzy and celebrations all around.
Earlier in the chase of 195, India A finished at 194 for 6, taking the contest into a Super Over. Earlier, Bangladesh A posted 194 for 6.
India were off to a flying start chasing 195 for a win, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya putting on 50 runs for the first wicket, however the 14-year old departed at the team total of 54 in the fourth over of the innings.
His quick-fire knock of 38 came off 15 deliveries and provided India a flying start. Arya too helped India's cause with a fiery 44 off 23.
India kept attacking through Priyansh Arya (44) and then through Jitesh Sharma (33) and Nehal Wadhera (32).
But Bangladesh fought back.
At the start of the 19th over, India were ahead but Ripon bowled a magnificent over conceding just 5 to leave India to get 16 off the last. Two singles came off Raqibul Hasan’s over and then a six and a dropped catch which went for four. With 4 needed off 2, Ashutosh Sharma was cleaned up and off the last ball, Akbar Ali lost his head and went for a run-out when he just needed to grab hold of the ball. A certain India defeat saw the game move into the Super Over.
Earlier, Bangladesh A, who were put into bat by India posted 194 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Habibur Rahman Sohan anchored the innings with a 46-ball 65, before SM Meherob produced one of the standout knocks of the tournament, blasting 48 off just 18 deliveries to push Bangladesh past the 190 mark.
India A looked in control at one stage, but Meherob and Yasir Ali turned the tide in the final two overs, adding 50 runs to give Bangladesh a strong finish.
SM Meherob smashed it everywhere to finish on an unbeaten 48 off just 18 balls. The decision to go with Naman Dhir in the penultimate over was a gamble and it didn't pay off. He was taken for 28 and then 22 came off the Vijaykumar Vyshak over.
Gurjapneet Singh was the most successful bowler with figures of two wickets for 39 runs in his four overs.
Harsh Dubey, Suyash Sharma, Ramandeep Singh and Naman Dhir picked up one wicket each in the Bangladesh innings.
