Sharjah, Dec 30 : Defending champions India advanced to the finals of the Under-19 Asia Cup after defeating Bangladesh by 103 runs here Today.

India will be up against Sri Lanka in the final, which is scheduled to take place on December 31.

Chasing the target of 244, Bangladesh were bundled out for 140 inside 39 overs in the semifinal clash.

India’s Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Raj Bawa, Ravi Kumar and Vicky Otswal claimed two wickets each, while Nishant Sindhu and Kaushal Tambe got one wicket each.

While Ariful Islam top scored with 42 off 77 balls, opener Mahfijul Islam was the second best with 26 off 23 balls for Bangladesh. No other batter from Bangladesh could score big in front of Indian bowling attack.

Asked to bat first, India posted 243 runs on board for the loss of eight wickets thanks to Shaik Rasheed’s unbeaten knock of 90.

India had a slow start as they managed to score 49 runs in 16.6 overs and lost both their openers. Harnoor Singh got caught on Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s delivery, while Naimur Rohman dismissed Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 15.

Soon, SM Meherob got rid of Nishant Sindhu cheaply for five. India skipper Yash Dhull scored 26 off 29 balls before getting dismissed by Rakibul Hasan in the 30th over.

Tambe and Aaradhya Yadav also failed to impress as India kept losing wickets. While Tambe was caught by Mohammad Fahim on Hasan’s delivery for mere three runs, Yadav was run-out and went back to pavilion.

It was Rasheed’s 108-ball 90 along with Hangargekar’s 28 not out that helped India cross the 200 mark.

Bangladesh’s captain Hasan scalped three wickets. Meherob, Sakib, Naimur Rohman and Islam picked one wicket each.(UNI)