That's it from our coverage of the semi-final match between Pakistan U19 and Bangladesh U19. Now the final of the U19 Asia Cup will be played between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan on Sunday. Till then, it's goodbye from our side. This is Mohammad Anab signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Arjun Bhalla and our scorer/analyst Danish Elahi. Cheers.
Farhan Yousaf (Pakistan U19 Captain): "Boys were very confident before this match, and now, after winning this one, boys are confident for the next match as well. The boys adjusted very well today, especially with the overs getting reduced. Subhan has been excellent. He bowled at the right areas and made use of the conditions as per his strength. This semi-final win is very good for the boys ahead of the next game (final against India U19)."
Azizul Hakim (Bangladesh U19 Captain): "We got tough conditions to bat on. They bowled really well. If we had partnerships in the middle, things could have been different. A total of 150 runs would have been a completely different story altogether. The bowlers didn't had enough runs to defend."
Abdul Subhan (POTM): The conditions were good for bowling, so I bowled accordingly. My coach gave me the plan and bowled at those lines and lengths. My favourite dismissal today was the caught behind of the left-hander (Azizul Hakim).
Player of the Match: Abdul Subhan
Time for the post-match presentation!!!
6:38 PM IST, 5:08 PM Local Time: PAKISTAN UNDER-19 ARE THROUGH!!! The Boys in Green have cruised past the Bangladesh U19 in this semifinal bout, and we are all in to witness another INDO-PAK final! Pakistan U19 have beaten BAN U19 here, while India U19 have also defeated SL U19 in their semifinal game.
It was a clinical performance from the Pakistan U19 unit. They first rattled Bangladesh U19 to a low total of 121 runs, and then chased it down without dropping a sweat.
Bowling first under overcast conditions, the Pakistani bowlers used the new ball and then the semi-old ball to perfection. Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam gave them a couple of early breaks, and Abdul Subhan took over in the middle overs and didn't let the Bangladeshi boys take a breather. Subhan first had Azizul Hakim and Kalam Siddiki Aleen in a single over, before removing Md. Abdullah in the same spell.
Subhan ended his spell one more wicket on his final ball, returning with 4/20 in his quota of six overs. The second-most successful bowler turned out to be offie, Huzaifa Ahsan, who got to bowl just two overs for his two wickets. Meanwhile, a wicket each went to Ahmed Hussain, Raza and Sayyam. As a result, Pakistan U19 restricted Bangladesh U19 to 121 runs.
Chasing the target, the Boys in Green lost a wicket early in the first over. However, it was followed by a gigantic partnership of 85 runs between Sameer Minhas and Usman Khan, coming off just 57 balls. Usman fell on 27, but Minhas went on to notch an unbeaten half-century.
Minhas remained unbeaten on 69, while Ahmed Hussain (11*) assisted him as Pakistan U19 went over the line with eight wickets in hand and 63 balls to spare.
Stay put for the post-game presentation...
OVER 17
Pakistan U19
123/2
Ahmed Hussain
11(14)
Sameer Minhas
69(57)
Iqbal Hossain Emmon
1-27(5.3)
16.4 Emmon to S Minhas
1wd AGAIN A BOUNCER AND AGAIN THE KEEPER MISSES. Umpire calls it a wide ball as this one was way above the batter. But that's it. Pakistan U19 win this match by eight wickets with more than 10 overs to go. They now storm into the finals and will face their arch-rivals, India U19, on Sunday. Emmon bowls a second consecutive bouncer with good pace. Sameer Minhas tries to hook it but misses on the top edge. The keeper jumps in the air to collect but fails to even touch it. The deep fine leg fielder, who is standing too fine, is able to cut it. However, the umpire has called it a wide. Even the batters also run a single. Minhas celebrates it with his partner, Hussain. Minhas, who has been Pakistan's leading run-scorer in this year's tournament, has been brilliant today as he remains unbeaten at 69*. The defending champions, Bangladesh U19, will return home now. They hadn't lost a single match in this edition of the tournament until today. Now, cricket fans all across the globe will wait for Sunday's epic clash between India U19 and Pakistan U19, which is considered the mother of all sporting rivalries.