India Beat Sri Lanka to Set Up Under-19 Asia Cup Final Clash with Pakistan

The Indian team will face Pakistan in the title match of the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. The second semi-final match played on the ICC Academy Ground on Friday saw the Indian team beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets and qualify for the final match. Sri Lanka, batting first, could manage a score of only 138 runs in the given 20 overs. The Indian team requirement of eight wickets in 20 overs was met within 18 overs. Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra performed amazingly well in the match by smacking fifty each.

Earlier, because of the rains, the match began late, thereby cutting it short to 20 overs each instead of 50. Sri Lanka has had a poor start, losing the opening wicket of Dulnith Sigera in the third over. Sri Lanka has incurred another loss in the next over, that of Kavija Gamage in the sixth over. Captain Vimath Dinasara and Chamika Heenatigala then steadied the innings, holding off another wicket for 11 overs. Dinasara was dismissed for 32 in the 12th over.

Thanks to Heenatigala's 42, Sethmika Seneviratne's 30, and captain Vimath Dinasara's 32, Sri Lanka scored 138 for 8 in 20 overs. Anil Patel and Kanishk Chauhan took two wickets each for India.

Chasing a target of 139, the Indian team also had a poor start. Captain Ayush Mantra was a complete flop in this tournament, having been dismissed for seven runs in the semi-final. Vaibhav Suryavanshi also returned to the pavilion after scoring nine runs. However, Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra, who were in excellent form, took charge and led the Indian team to victory. Both scored half-centuries, securing Team India's victory in just 18 overs and advancing to the final.

The Indian team will now face Pakistan in the title match, to be played on December 21st. Pakistan had already secured a place in the final by defeating Bangladesh in the first semi-final.