MUSCAT: Sri Lanka A beat Bangladesh A by 19 runs to top Group A and seal the semifinal spot in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 at Oman Cricket Academy ground on Tuesday night. Sri Lanka A, with four points, topped the group with a better run-rate than Afghanistan A, also with four points, both making it to the semifinals. Bangladesh A were third on a better run-rate than Hong Kong, with both teams having two points each.
Batting first, Sri Lanka A posted 161 for 7 wickets as Pavan Rathnayake top-scored with 42 runs from 26 balls (3x4, 2x6). Sahan Arachchige (30) and Lahiru Udara (35) made useful contributions.
In reply, Bangladesh A faltered against Dushan Hemantha's leg-break bowling as the all-rounder took 3 wickets for 23 in 4 overs to earn the man of the match award. Opener Saif Hassan was retired hurt at 29 while his partner Parvez Hossain Emon scored 24. After their dismissals, Bangladesh lost their way as only Abu Hider kept the score ticking with his 38 not out from 25 balls. Apart from captain Towhid Hridoy (12), none of the batters made two-digit scores, and Bangladesh ended at 142 for 7 in 20 overs.
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