India outclass Bangladesh<

A patient knock of 61 runs by consistent performer Tanmay Srivastav and a three-wicket haul by Shahbaz Nadeem enabled India outclass Bangladesh by seven wickets and sail into the semifinals of the Asia Cup Under-15 cricket tournament.

With this win, India completed their Group B engagements with an all-win record and will now take on Sri Lanka in the semifinals to be played at the Sharjah stadium tomorrow.

India inserted their rivals after winning the toss and did well to restrict them to 132 all out with one ball to spare and later reached the target in 31.3 overs losing three wickets.

Bangladesh were always in trouble after they lost their first wicket for just seven runs and at one stage were four down for just 38. But Sirajulla Khadem with a breezy 27 off just 20 balls and his last wicket stand of 22 runs with Abu Syed Rajib helped Bangladesh reach a respectable score. Khadem hit three boundaries and the only six of the match.

Earlier, Chayan Raj scored 26 and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rehman made 21 before he was run out.

Shahbaz Nadeem was the pick of the Indian bowlers with his three for 22 while M.R Darshan and Sanjeev Martin picked up two apiece.

When India began their run-chase, opener Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed in the very second over for a duck and the favourites were one down for just eight runs. Shafi Moazzem, who bowled a lively spell beat the batsmen a couple of times and the Bangladeshi players tried to apply some early pressure.

But Tanmay Srivastav and T. Aaron Paul, the son of former Ranji star Vijay Paul, played slowly and steadily. Punishing the loose deliveries, the two Indian batsmen took complete control and starred in a 110-run second wicket partnership.

However with just 15 runs needed for victory, both Tanmay and Paul were run out. Tanmay, who scored 48 in the first match and then followed it up with 82 in the second league game, compiled another pleasing knock of 61 with just four boundaries in it. Paul's knock of 44 had three boundaries and the two steered India to the easy seven-wicket win.

"It is very good to go into the semifinals with an all-win record. But the real battle starts now," said Indian coach Lalchand Rajput.

"The players having been shaping well and their confidence level is high. Sri Lanka is a good side and we cannot take any team lightly. Everything depends on the performance on a given day," added Rajput.

Srivastav, who was later named Man of the Match by match referee Rumesh Ratnayake, said he was happy with his form. "Most important is that the team is winning. I hope to do well in the next match too," said the 13-year-old schoolboy from Kanpur.

Summarised scores:
Bangladesh: 132 all out in 39.5 overs (S. Khadem 27, Chayan Raj 26, Mushfiqur Rehman 21, Shahbaz Nadeem 3 for 22, M.R Darshan 2 for 20, Sanjeev Martin 2 for 29)
India: 133 for 3 in 31.3 overs (Tanmay Srivastav 61 run out, T.A Paul 44 run out)
Man of match: Tanmay Srivastav.