Doha witnessed high drama on Friday night as Ripon Mondol produced a Super Over for the ages, conceding zero runs and taking two wickets, to send Bangladesh A into the final after a nerve-shredding semifinal against India A.
In a match that swung wildly from one side to the other, it was Mondol’s calmness under extreme pressure that proved the difference in a contest fans will remember for a long time.
Bangladesh A’s Strong Start Sets The Tone
India A captain Jitesh Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl on a true batting surface, but Bangladesh A made full use of ideal conditions.
Opener Habibur Rahman Sohan held the innings together beautifully with a composed 65 off 46 balls, while Jishan Alam (26 off 14) and Zawad Abrar (13 off 19) provided brisk support at the top.
Just when Bangladesh looked set for a massive total, India’s spinners Harsh Dubey and Suyash Sharma tightened the screws. Their efforts dragged Bangladesh A from a commanding 108/2 to a vulnerable 130/6, giving India A a way back into the contest.
Meherob Hasan’s Late Blitz Turns The Tide
With momentum shifting, S M Meherob Hasan flipped the script completely. The right-hander launched a ferocious counterattack, smashing 48 off 18 balls*, including six towering sixes. Alongside *Yasir Ali (18 off 9)**, he added 50 runs in the last two overs, powering Bangladesh A to a formidable 194/6 in 20 overs.
India A’s Explosive Start… And Sudden Stumble
India A came out firing in the chase. Youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi unleashed from ball one, hammering 38 off just 15 deliveries as India raced to 49/0 in three overs.
After his dismissal by Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, Priyansh Arya (44 off 23) picked up the mantle, but wickets began to tumble regularly.
A slow knock of 7 off 12 from Naman Dhir stalled momentum, and despite being 101/3 at halfway, India A struggled to maintain the required tempo.
A Tied Finish And Super Over Heartbreak
The chase came down to 16 needed from the final over. Rakibul Hasan bowled five superb deliveries before a last-ball misfield allowed India A to sneak three runs, tying the match and forcing a Super Over. With the pressure at its peak, Bangladesh A handed the ball to Ripon Mondol, and he delivered pure perfection.
He clean bowled Jitesh Sharma with the first ball. He then removed Ashutosh Sharma with the second.
India A Super Over: 0/2
Needing just one run to win, Bangladesh A sent in Yasir Ali. India A chose Suyash Sharma to defend. He struck first ball, dismissing Yasir, giving India faint hope, but the very next delivery drifted down the leg side for a wide.
Game. Set. Match. Bangladesh A.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 'A' 194/6 (Habibur Rahman 65, S M Meherob Hasan 48*; Gurjaoneet Singh 2/39, Suyash Sharma 1/17) tied with India 'A' 194/6 (Priyansh Arya 44, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 38; Rakibul Hasan 2/39, Abu Hider Rony 2/44). Bangladesh A won via Super Over.
