KEY POINTS
- Bangladesh edge Afghanistan in close three-wicket victory.
- Sri Lanka crush Nepal in dominant eight-wicket win.
DUBAI: The ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 witnessed contrasting fortunes as defending champions Bangladesh began their campaign with a tense victory, while Sri Lanka delivered a sound performance with a crushing win on Saturday.
Competition in Group B intensified immediately, with Sri Lanka’s resounding triumph propelling them to the top of the standings, followed closely by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Edge Afghanistan in Tense Chase
In a match that lived up to the tournament’s competitive reputation, Bangladesh secured a hard-fought, three-wicket victory over a spirited Afghanistan at the ICC Academy.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan posted a formidable 283/7, powered by a superb century from Faisal Shinozada (103 off 94 balls). He anchored the innings, sharing a crucial 93-run stand with Uzairullah Niazai (44).
Bangladesh U19 got off to a flying start with a solid opening stand ~ making the run chase look comfortable. A few hiccups towards the end tested their nerves but they held their ground and added the crucial points to their tally 🇧🇩#DPWorldMensU19AsiaCup2025 #ACC #AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/FlkZXjYPQj
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) December 13, 2025
Bangladesh’s chase was anchored by a dominant 151-run opening partnership between Zawad Abrar (96 off 112) and Rifat Beg (62 off 68).
Despite a middle-order wobble, skipper Azizul Hakim (47) and Rizan Hossan (17 not out) held their nerve to guide the defending champions over the line with seven balls to spare.
Sri Lanka Dominate with Commanding Win
In stark contrast, the day’s second Group B fixture was a one-sided affair at The Sevens Stadium.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by a sensational spell from Sethmika Seneviratne, dismantled Nepal for a paltry 82 runs. Seneviratne’s brilliant five-wicket haul (5/25 in 9.5 overs) decimated the Nepali batting order.
The Lions are off to a winning start in the #DPWorldMensU19AsiaCup2025 🇱🇰#DPWorldMensU19AsiaCup2025 #ACC #SLvNEP pic.twitter.com/uuNYx0Dl49
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) December 13, 2025
The target proved trivial for Sri Lanka, who chased it down in just 13.5 overs for the loss of only two wickets.
Opener Dimantha Mahavithana (39*) guided the chase with ease, securing an eight-wicket win that gives Sri Lanka a significant net run-rate advantage.
With these results, Sri Lanka leads Group B, followed by Bangladesh in second. Afghanistan and Nepal occupy the third and fourth positions, respectively, setting the stage for a crucial round of upcoming fixtures.
