The match between India A and Bangladesh A in the first semi-final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament unfolded like a movie script.
Both teams were tied at 194-194, then neither team scored a run in the Super Over, but Bangladesh won with a wide ball.
Indian players missed chances, fielding was erratic, and ultimately, heartbreak ensued. The match, played on November 21st at the West End Park Stadium, left fans stunned.
Bangladesh A batted first and scored 194/6 in 20 overs. Opener Habibur Rahman Sohan scored 65 runs, while SM Mehrob played a quickfire innings of 48* (18 balls) in the final overs.
India’s Naman Dhir conceded 28 runs in the 19th over, which proved to be the turning point of the match. India conceded 75 runs in the final five overs. Garjpaneet Singh took 2/39, but it wasn’t enough.
A spectacle of glitches in the match
India A’s chase now. Priyansh Arya scored 44, Vaibhav Suryavanshi played a quickfire 38 (15 balls), but the middle order faltered. They were 150/4 after 15 overs, but by the end, they could only manage 194/6. The last over was bowled by Rakibul Hasan.
Ashutosh Sharma hit a six off the very first ball, making the equation 8 runs in 3 balls. Ashutosh tried to hit a shot on the next ball, but Zeeshan Alam dropped the catch at long off, the ball went behind him, and 4 runs were lost. Rakibul dismissed Ashutosh with a yorker on the next ball. Harsh Dubey came in, 4 runs needed in 1 ball.
Dubey played a shot to long on, took a run, but the throw went wide of the wicketkeeper. Dubey took a single, then ran for second.
Captain Akbar Ali didn’t catch the ball and threw an underarm delivery, which missed the stumps. India stole the third run, and the match was tied! Akbar later said, “I knew the equation, but I didn’t know what happened in my mind, and I threw the ball.” This mistake pushed the match into a Super Over.
Super Over Drama and Decision
India didn’t send Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had been a star in the campaign, in the Super Over. Instead, Jitesh Sharma and Ramdeep Singh went in. Jitesh tried to scoop a yorker off the first ball but missed, being dismissed by Ripan Mandol.
Ashutosh took a catch off the toe-end off the next ball. India were 0/2. Bangladesh now needed 1 run. Yasir Ali was caught at long-on off Suyash Sharma’s googly off the first ball.
Akbar Ali came in with the new ball, and Suyash bowled wide down leg. Bangladesh won by 1 wicket! Not a single run was scored by Butt in the Super Over.
Jitesh said after the match, “I will take all responsibility. As a senior, I should finish the game.” He also revealed that the think tank decided to send death-over specialists, not Vaibhav.
Akbar breathed a sigh of relief, saying that before the Super Over, he thought, “Whatever happens, I take responsibility.” Ripan Mandol was awarded Player of the Match, whose yorkers were brilliant.
Bangladesh will now face either Pakistan or Sri Lanka in the final. India A’s campaign ended here after losing to Pakistan in the group stage. Scorecard: Bangladesh A 194/6 (Habibur 65, Mehrob 48*; Garjpaneet 2/39) beat India A 194/6 (Priyansh 44, Vaibhav 38; Rakibul 2/39) in the Super Over.
This match showcases the unpredictable face of cricket, where small mistakes can make a big difference.
