India win under-17 Asia Cup

India overcame a spirited challenge from Bangladesh to win the under-17 Asia Cup cricket tournament, in Dakha, on Saturday.

Chasing Bangladesh's total of 225 for six in the allotted 45 overs, the Indian youngsters rattled up 228 in 43.1 overs, losing only four wickets.

Ironically, it was another Sachin who fashioned the victory. Sachin Dholpure scored a classy half century as the Indians beat the hosts and the vociferous crowd at the Bangabandhu National stadium.

Dholpure (50) and Parthiv Patel (40) raised a 97-run first wicket partnership to set the tone for India's reply. Dholpure struck six fours and a six before he was out in the 18th over.

Middle order bat Monish Mishra (51), who was eventually declared man-of-the-match, then took India close to the victory target.

Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful was named player of the tournament, having scored 303 runs including a century.

Defending champions Sri Lanka and last year's runners-up Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament by Bangladesh and India respectively in the semifinals.

Opting to bat on winning the toss, Bangladesh lost their first wicket at 32, when Zahaurul Islam was out for nine.

Skipper Nafeez Iqbal did not last long, being run out for 12.

But the other opener Mohammad Ashraful and wicket-keeper batsman Hasibul Haoq retrieved the innings with a third wicket partnership of 88 runs off 15.3 overs.

Ashraful, a 16-year-old right hander who was in a particularly aggressive mood, made 89 off 85 balls with 11 hits to the fence. Two more run outs followed. First, Mohd Shariff was run out by Deepak Chaugule for 11 and then ATM Shariful was caught short of the crease by Stuart Binny for four.

Bin Mortaza, who cracked 18 off 12 balls, and Hasibul Haoq added 37 runs for the sixth wicket off only four overs to carry Bangladesh to a fighting total.

The 14-year-old Haoq remained unbeaten on 52 off 87 balls with two hits to the boundary.

Mail Cricket Editor