India beat Sri Lanka by 144 runs to win Sixth U-19 Asia Cup title
NEW DELHI: India colts produced a clinical performance to outclass Sri Lanka by 144 runs in the summit clash of the 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup in Dhaka on Sunday.
The victory gave India their sixth title in the continental tournament. After batsmen set a competitive target of 305 runs, India bowlers bundled the Lankans out for 160 in 38.4 overs to reclaim the trophy.
Left-arm spinner Harsh Tyagi was the pick of India attack as he bamboozled Lankan batsmen to return figures of 6 for 38 in ten overs. India won the first five U-19 Asia Cups, but they failed to reach the semi-finals in the last edition in 2017 which was held in Malaysia.
They have come back stronger this time around to remain unbeaten in the entire tournament. Sri Lanka's run chase began on the wrong foot as they lost skipper Nipun Dananjaya (12) early to pacer Mohit Jangra to be at 20/1 in 6.1 overs.
Indian bowlers squeezed the run flow after that with some tight bowling. Tyagi then gave India their second breakthrough when he dismissed Pasindu Sooriyabandara (31 off 32), who was scoring at a good clip, to reduce Sri Lanka to 66/2 in 15.3 overs. Tyagi did not stop there and struck twice in quick times.
First, he removed Kalana Perera for nought in his next over (18th), before sending Nuwanidu Fernando (4) back to the pavilion with Sri Lanka struggling at 79/4 in 19.2 overs. The left-armer Tyagi continued to wreak havoc in the Lankan camp and dismissed Nishan M Fernando to reduce them to 104/5 in 23.5 overs.
Fernando was holding the fort for his team till then, scoring 49 off 67 balls with the help of two sixes and a solitary four. It was all downhill for Sri Lanka after that, and soon two wickets in two balls left them reeling at 127/7 after 32.1 overs.
Siddharth Desai dismissed Dulith Wellalage (7) with the final ball of the 32nd over, before Nipun Malinga was run out without facing a ball while trying to steal a second run. In the 34th over, Tyagi completed his five-wicket haul by scalping Sandun Mendis (1), before making Kalhara Senarathne's his sixth victim.
Desai took the final wicket to wrap up the Lankan innings, when he trapped Navod Paranavithana LBW. Paranavithana scored a handy 48 off 61 balls but failed to find a reliable partner at the other end. Earlier, India top-order fired in unison and post a big total of 304 for 3 after opting to bat first.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (85) and Anuj Rawat (57) gave the former champions an ideal start by adding 121 runs for the first wicket in 25 overs. Both completed their respective half-centuries, before Rawat was out leg before to left-arm spinner Dulith Wellalage in the first ball of the 26th over.
Rawat smacked three sixes and four boundaries for his 79-ball 57 knock. Jaiswal was then joined by Devdutt Padikkal (31 off 43 balls) and the duo kept the momentum going with another solid stand of 59 runs in 12.2 overs.
India lost both Jaiswal and Padikkal in fairly quick successions and were at 194/3 in 40.5 overs.
Jaiswal was trapped LBW by pacer Kalana Perera in the 38th over, after the India opener scored 85 off 113 balls with the help of a six and eight fours.
While, Padikkal was clean bowled by off-spinner Senaratne in the 41st over.
Captain Simran Singh (65*) along with Ayush Badoni (52*) made sure that India finished off their innings in style, adding an unbeaten 110 runs in just 9.1 overs and took the score over 300-run mark. They capitalised on the solid platform set by the top three batsmen and launched the attack from the word go.
Courtesy: timesofindia
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Indian student dies after suffering severe injuries in house fire in US
New York (PTI): A 24-year-old Indian student in the US has died after suffering severe injuries in a house fire, according to the Indian mission here.
Sahaja Reddy Udumala was pursuing a Master’s degree in Albany, New York.
The Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X on Friday (local time) that it is “deeply saddened by the untimely demise” of Udumala, who lost her life in the house fire incident in Albany.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time,” the Consulate said, adding that it is in touch with Udumala’s family and is extending all possible assistance.
The Albany Police Department said in a statement that its personnel and the Albany Fire Department responded to the house fire on the morning of December 4.
When they arrived at the scene, officers and firefighters found the residence fully engulfed in flames and learned that several individuals were still inside the home.
They were able to locate four adult victims inside the residence, who were treated on scene by emergency medical personnel before being transported to a hospital, where they are being treated for serious injuries.
Two of the victims were later transferred to a medical burn centre for further treatment.
“Tragically, the adult female victim succumbed to her injuries she sustained in the fire,” the police department said.
It did not release the victim’s name pending notification of kin but the deceased has been identified as Udumala by her family.
A fundraiser has been launched by Udumala’s cousin Rathna Gopu to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, repatriation and transportation arrangements, immediate family support and additional expenses resulting from the tragic accident.
“…our family experienced an unimaginable tragedy when our beloved cousin, Sahaja Udumala, passed away following a devastating fire accident.
"Sahaja was just 24 years old, a bright and hardworking student pursuing her Master’s degree in Albany, NY, with a future full of dreams, hope, and promise,” Gopu said on the fundraiser.
Gopu added that Udumala sustained severe burn injuries affecting nearly 90 per cent of her body.
“She struggled immensely, fighting with all the strength she had. Despite all medical efforts, her condition continued to worsen, and she ultimately experienced complete organ failure, leading to her passing this morning,” Gopu said, adding that Udumala was known for her kindness, determination, and the warmth she shared with everyone around her.
“Losing her so suddenly has left our family devastated and facing unexpected emotional and financial hardships.”
So far, over USD 109,000 have been raised through donations out of the total amount of USD 120,000.
