In what will be remembered as one of the most dramatic encounters in Rising Stars Asia Cup history, Bangladesh A pulled off a stunning victory against India A in a nerve-wracking semifinal that went down to the wire and beyond. The match culminated in a Super Over where young Bangladeshi pacer Ripon Mondol delivered a performance for the ages.
The Thrilling Main Contest
Bangladesh A set a challenging target of 194/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to solid contributions from their batting lineup. Habibur Rahman Sohan anchored the innings with a well-made 65, while SM Meherob provided the late fireworks with a blistering 48 not out from just 18 balls.
India A appeared to be in control during their chase, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi giving them a flying start and Priyansh Arya contributing a quickfire 44. However, the match took a dramatic turn in the final two overs as Bangladesh A fought back fiercely.
The 19th over bowled by Ripon Mondol proved crucial as the young seamer delivered six perfect yorkers, conceding only five runs while dismissing the dangerous Ramandeep Singh. With 16 needed off the final over, India A survived several tense moments including a dropped catch and a run-out scare before Nehal Wadhera managed to scrape three runs off the last ball to tie the game.
The Super Over Spectacle
Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali made the bold decision to entrust the Super Over to the young Ripon Mondol, and the 23-year-old responded with one of the most remarkable bowling displays in recent memory.
On the first delivery, Mondol sent a lightning yorker that crashed into Jitesh Sharma's stumps as the Indian batsman attempted an ambitious reverse sweep. The second ball saw another perfect yorker that forced Ashutosh Sharma to lob a simple catch to extra cover.
Within two deliveries, India A had been bundled out for zero runs in the Super Over, setting Bangladesh A the simple task of scoring just one run for victory.
Victory Sealed and Reactions
Although Bangladesh A lost Yasir Ali on the first ball of their Super Over innings, a wide delivery from Suyash Sharma ultimately sealed the historic victory for the Bangladeshi team.
Ripon Mondol, who finished with two wickets for no runs in the decisive Super Over, was deservedly named Player of the Match. The young sensation expressed his emotions after the game, stating: "Feeling so good. My mind was saying I can do this. The message from the captain was to back my strength."
The victory propels Bangladesh A into the Rising Stars Asia Cup final scheduled for November 23, where they will face either Pakistan A or Sri Lanka A. For India A, the defeat serves as a harsh lesson in finishing tight games and making bold selection decisions under extreme pressure.
The match has set social media platforms ablaze with cricket fans worldwide praising Ripon Mondol's exceptional bowling performance and the overall quality of the contest between these two emerging cricket nations.
