DHAKA: Rahul Dravid-coached India stormed into the final of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 with a convincing 97-run win over Sri Lanka in the semi-final in Bangladesh on Tuesday.
In a match produced by ICC TV and aired around the globe by 15 broadcasters, Anmolpreet Singh scored 72 and Sarfaraz Khan made 59 as India recovered from early setbacks to post 267 for nine after being put into bat on a misty morning in Mirpur.
Sri Lanka was down to 13 for two in reply before being dismissed for 170 in 42.4 overs to hand three-time champion India its fifth appearance in the final.
Skipper Ishan Kishan´s men await the winner of Thursday´s second semi-final between host Bangladesh and the West Indies in the title clash in Mirpur on February 14.
India lost openers Rishabh Pant and Kishan by the 10th over to slip to 27 for two in conditions that suited Sri Lanka´s seam bowlers.
Sarfaraz and man-of-the-match Anmolpreet revived the innings by adding 96 for the third wicket with a mix of big shots and sharp ones and twos.
Sarfaraz hit six fours and a six while Anmolpreet, playing only his second match in the tournament, matched his senior partner with the same number of hits to the fence.
Sri Lanka grabbed six wickets in the final 10 overs, but India still managed to add 89 runs as Armaan Jaffer pushed the score along with a 16-ball 29.
Seamer Asitha Fernando was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler with four for 43, while new-ball partner Lahiru Kumar and spinner Thilan Nimesh picked up two wickets each.
Sri Lanka slipped to 42 for three following the loss of skipper and star batsman Charith Asalanka in the 10th over, before Kamindu Mendis (39) and Shammu Ashan (38) engineered a brief recovery.
But, once left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar had Mendis caught off a top-edged sweep and Ashan ran himself out, Sri Lanka caved in tamely against the steady India bowlers.
Dagar finished with impressive figures of three for 21, while seamer Avesh Khan claimed two for 41.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan qualified for the Plate Championship final with an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in Cox´s Bazar.
Aniket Parikh´s all-round display of 48 and two for 20 went in vain as the Afghans bowled out New Zealand for 135 and then raced home in the 28th over.
Tariq Stanikzai scored 50 and captain Ihsanullah Janat made 47 as Afghanistan set up the Plate final against Zimbabwe in Cox´s Bazar on February 12. (PPI)
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