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India beat Bangladesh to face Pakistan in final

Dhaka, Feb. 26: India A recorded a massive seven-wicket win as they overhauled host Bangladesh's 235 with 13 overs to spare scoring more than six runs per over to make it to the final of the 3rd SAARC Cricket Tournament today.

Holders India will meet Pakistan A, the unbeaten finalist, in the final o f the four-nation biennial meet on Friday. Prime Minister Hasina Wajid is expected to be the chief guest on the final day of the 10-day tourney.

In the last robin-league match with runners-up Bangladesh at the Dhaka Stadium, India A with one point from two matches needed to chase the host impressive total in 39 overs to confirm the final berth denying Sri Lanka A Their maiden final entry.

A positive approach of the Indian batsmen right from the start, especiall y by Man-of-the-Match. S. Sarath 64 not out in 61 balls and opener Gagan Kh oda (63 in 67 balls), enabled India to reach the difficult target as the host cricketers fielded poorly.

Aminul Islam Bulbul (78) and all-rounder Minhazul Abedin Nannu (53) celebrated their happy return in the squad after a two-match absence due to injury helping Bangladesh to post their best ever total of 235 for 8 wick ets in alloted 50 overs. But wicketkeeper Jahangir Alam, who replaced Khaled Masud Pilot, missed one catch each of opener Waseem jaffar (34 in 44 ball s) and Gagan Khoda off paceman Zakir Hossain in the early stage to let the Indians make a blistering 82 runs in 14 overs for the opening stand.

All-rounder Athar Ali Khan made the first breakthrough for Bangladesh as he trapped right handed Jaffar while one down skip- per Amay Khurasiya (14) ga ve a return catch to Nannu with the addition of 30 runs.

Opener Gagan Khoda, who flew in here early this (Wednesday) morn- ing to replace injured skipper Ajay Sharma, justified the call with 63 runs that included eight fours. He got his half century in 54 balls with his sevent h boundary making a cover drive off Bulbul.

Gagan Khoda was run out going for a short single with India on 138. Enamu l Haq Moni and Jahangir Alam teamed up to make the third wicket fall.

Man of the Match S. Sarath and Hemang Badani collected the re- quired runs in next 14.2 overs in the undefeated fourth wicket stand. Badani made not ou t 33 off 37 balls with three fours, surviving once at the hand of skipper Akram off Bulbul.

Sarath, who raced to his 50 in 47 balls, remained not out on 64 runs play ing 61 balls. He made seven hits to the fence. Bangladesh skipper Akram used eight bowlers, but failed to create any pressure on the marauding Indian batsmen due to floppy field- ing arrangement, a major reason for the host's failure in the meet. Athar Ali and Nannu took one wicket apiece.

In the morning, coin-favoured Bangladesh opted to bat first and lost thei r first wicket of Jahangir Alam (10) in the 7th over off D. Mohanty with to tal on 20. The second wicket fell in the 14th over at 55 as Harbinder Singh dismissed Sanwar Hossain (13).

Spinner S. Bahutule deceived opener Athar Ali to be stumped by wicket kee per s. Prasad with the home team on 79 for 3 in 22 overs. The fall brought skipper Akram Khan (19) with Bulbul. They added 65 runs before Akram gave a high catch to Singh at his 15 runs in the 38th over.

Bulbul and Nannu, both of whom missed the previous two matches due to injury, teamed up to add 72 runs in 10 overs before Bulbul gave a simple catch to A Sarkar at mid-off in the 48th over with Bangladesh on 216 runs.

Dark and dapper Bulbul, who completed his 50 in 75 balls, hit eight fours before becoming the third victim of Singh, the spear- head of the Indian pa ce attack.

Nannu rattled 53 runs off 46 balls with five fours and a sixer. he was ru n out going for a second run in the last over off Singh. Before the ball of Nannu, the hosts lost another two wick- ets of Shanta (6) and Durjoy (1).

Singh gabbed the wicket of Shanta to finish with 10-0-44-4 while Mohanty claimed two wickets for 43 runs and Bahutule took the other.