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Bangladesh ‘A’ team batter Habibur Rahman Sohan plays a shot during their Asia Cup Rising Stars, semi-final match against India A at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Friday. | Courtesy photo

Bangladesh ‘A’ reached the final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars as they beat India ‘A’ in the first semifinal, after a dramatic super over at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Friday. 

Ripon Mondol struck twice in the first two balls of the super over to set Bangladesh a target of just one after the match was tied when India scored 194-6 in reply to Bangladesh’s exact score. 


However, Yasir Ali holed out to long on in the first ball off leg-spinner Suyash Sharma to set a more chaotic finish. Suyash then bowled a wide down the leg side of the skipper Akbar Ali, who managed to get out of the line of the ball. 

It was Akbar who missed a big chance to win it for his team in the last ball of the last over of the main match. 

With 16 needed off the last over, left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan conceded 12 off the first four after Jishan Alam missed a regulation catch and gave away a boundary in the fourth ball.

Rakibul hit back with a wicket in the fifth over as India needed four off the last. 

However, while Harsh Dubey and Nehal Wadhera were scampering for a double, Akbar collected the throw missed the stumps which allowed India a third and to eventually tie the score.

Akbar, who also had dropped a regulation catch in the 19th over, somehow had his moment to make his redemption when Bangladesh finally won in the super over. 

Earlier, Habibur Rahman Sohan’s 65 off 46 with three fours and five sixes and SM Meherob’s late blitz of 48* off 18, with Yasir Ali’s 17 off 9, propelled Bangladesh to a commendable score after they were asked to bat. 

Meherob struck one four and six sixes as Bangladesh scored 50 runs in the last two overs. 

In reply, India made a strong start thanks to their openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (38 off 15) and Priyansh Arya (44 off 23). 

But Bangladesh managed to keep things tight in the middle to give themselves a chance, followed by a vital 19th over bowled by Ripon, where he conceded only five, before the drama started. 

Bangladesh will take on the winner of the second semifinal between Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the final on November 23 at the same venue.