![\"Sarfaraz](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Sarfaraz-khan-India-U19-Cricket-World-Cup-2016.jpg\")
Rahul Dravid-coached India will rely on its all-round strengths to put it across buoyant Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 in Mirpur on Tuesday.<\/p>\nRahul Dravid-coached India will rely on its all-round strengths to put it across buoyant Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 in Mirpur on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The power-packed Indians breezed through Group D with an all-win record against New Zealand, Nepal and Ireland, before crushing Namibia by 197 runs in the quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka bounced back after a 23-run defeat to Pakistan in the last Group B match to stun a strong England side by six wickets in the quarter-final.<\/p>\n
The in-form India side is rated as favourite, having won a tri-series in Sri Lanka last December, which also featured England, but Dravid refused to take victory for granted.<\/p>\n
“We know what to expect from them,” said Dravid. “They have a couple of seamers and a lot of good spinners. They bowl a lot of spin. Having said that, they also know what to expect from us.<\/p>\n
“It should be a good contest. We have been playing very good cricket of late and the lead-up to the tournament was good.<\/p>\n
“We need to play well, irrespective of whether we bat or bowl first. If we play good cricket and bring our A game to the party, we will give ourselves a good chance to win.”<\/p>\n
India’s batting has been led by aggressive left-handed opener Rishabh Pant, who followed a 18-ball half-century against Nepal with 111 off 96 balls in the quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Sarfaraz Khan has shored up the middle-order with three half-centuries in four matches.<\/p>\n
Seamer Avesh Khan, with nine wickets in the tournament, and left-arm spinner Mahipal Lomror (seven) have led a steady Indian attack that has bowled out the rivals in three of the four matches. Ireland’s 189 all out has been the highest total against India so far.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka coach Roger Wijesuriya said his side’s impressive win over England left him optimistic about the semi-final.<\/p>\n
“India is a strong side, a good all-round side,” said Wijesuriya. “We know their strengths. I know Indians play spin well but spin bowling is our strength and we will stick to that.<\/p>\n
“If we play the way we did against England, there is no reason why we can’t turn the semi-final in our favour.<\/p>\n
“Our batsmen did not do well against Pakistan, but they showed up against England to back our bowlers and fielders. The batting has improved which is a good sign.<\/p>\n
“We will take on the Indians with a lot of confidence. We have nothing to fear. It should be a very good game.”<\/p>\n
The winner will meet either host Bangladesh or the West Indies in the final on 14 February.<\/p>\n
India will feature in its seventh semi-final, having won the tournament thrice. Sri Lanka, looking for their maiden title, will be appearing in its third semi-final.<\/p>\n
When the tournament was last held in Bangladesh in 2004, Pakistan won the title defeating the West Indies in the final. India finished third and Sri Lanka was fifth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rahul Dravid-coached India will rely on its all-round strengths to put it across buoyant Sri Lanka in the first semi-final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016 in Mirpur on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The power-packed Indians breezed through Group D with an all-win record against New Zealand, Nepal and Ireland, before crushing Namibia by 197 runs in the quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Sri Lanka bounced back after a 23-run defeat to Pakistan in the last Group B match to stun a strong England side by six wickets in the quarter-final.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[4744,13596,5886,14132,225,14542,14543,13720,14541],"class_list":["post-25612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket-cricket","tag-cricket-news","tag-icc-u19-cricket-world-cup-2016","tag-india-vs-sri-lanka","tag-mahipal-lomror","tag-rahul-dravid","tag-roger-wijesuriya","tag-sarfaraz-khan-avesh-khan","tag-u19-cricket","tag-u19-cricket-world-cup-semifinal"],"yoast_head":"\n