India opened their account in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup with a 35-run win against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh. Put in to bat, skipper Baba Aparajith propelled the team to 288 for nine with a century to set the game up for his side. The Aswin Crist and Kanishk Seth-led attack then bowled the team to victory. The pacers claimed three wickets each while spinner R Chahar took two wickets.
Earlier, India lost the wicket of AR Easwaran to Asitha Fernando with just nine runs on the board. Shubham Gill then joined Shivam Chowdhary in an effort to build a platform for a solid total. The duo added 57 for the second wicket until Amila Aponsu castled the No 3 bat to leave India on 66 for two. The opener then forged a 52-run stand with the skipper before he was run out for 56.
After the departure of Chowdhary, Aparajith found an able ally in Hanuma Vihari to build on the foundation. The pair added 119 runs for the fourth wicket until Vihari was bowled for 56 by Wannidu De Silva. Two runs later Ankush Bains was trapped lbw by Aponsu and the captain followed him back to the pavilion 20 balls later. Aparajith was dismissed for 100 by Chamika Karunarathne leaving India on 256 for six with a little over four overs left in the innings. As the lower order strove to add quick useful runs to the total, India continued to lose wickets and were 288 for nine at the end of their 50 overs.
Defending the competitive total, Aswin struck in the first over to leave Sri Lanka on one for one while, Seth accounted for Sadeera Samarawickrama 26 runs later. As India looked for breakthroughs, Shehan Jayasuria and Charith Asalanka stitched a partnership in an effort to shape the chase. They had put together 89 runs for the third wicket until Jayasuria was out lbw to R Chahar. The Indian bowlers then continued to strike at regular intervals and maintained a hold on the innings.
Angelo Perera's run out then left Sri Lanka on 142 for four while Kithruwan Vithanage too was run out by Easwaran a few overs later. Asalanka who had held up one end was sent back by Seth to tip the balance in India's favour. Nine runs later Chahar accounted for Anuk Fernando while Seth dismantled Chamika Karunarathne's stumps to leave SL on 242 for eight. Aswin then wrapped up the game with the wickets of De Silva and Aponsu.
Man of the match: Baba Aparajith for his match-winning century.
