Sri Lanka suffered their first defeat of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 after going down to Bangladesh in their final Group B encounter at the ICC Academy Grounds in Dubai.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first, but Bangladesh posted a competitive total of 225 runs. Opening batter Zawad Abrar provided stability at the top of the order, finishing as the top scorer with 49 runs.
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Off-spinner Kavija Gamage was the standout performer with the ball for Sri Lanka, returning figures of 4 for 38. He received good support from Viran Chamuditha and Rasith Nimsara, who picked up two wickets each to keep Bangladesh in check.
Chasing 226 for victory, Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 186 runs. Middle-order batter Chamika Heenatigala top-scored with 41, while wicketkeeper-batter Aadham Hilmy contributed a fighting 39, but the target proved out of reach.
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Bangladesh’s bowlers held their nerve in the second innings, with Shahriar Ahmed and Iqbal Hossain Emon leading the attack by claiming three wickets apiece.
Despite the loss, Sri Lanka finished the group stage with two wins from three matches, securing second place in Group B and confirming their spot in the semi-finals. Sri Lanka will now face India in the first semi-final of the tournament on 19 December.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh U19 – 225 (46.3) Zawad Abrar 49, Kavija Gamage 4/38, Viran Chamuditha 2/19, Rasith Nimsara 2/57
Sri Lanka U19 – 186 (49.1) Chamika Heenatigala 41, Aadham Hilmy 39, Shahriar Ahmed 3/27, Iqbal Hossain Emon 3/37
Result – Bangladesh U19 won by 39 runs
