Bangladesh clinched a place in the Rising Stars Asia Cup final after a nerve-shredding Super Over win against India ‘A’ in Doha on Friday, surviving a chaotic finish that saw a seemingly certain victory slip from their grasp in the regulation overs.

Having let the match drift into the Super Over through a series of dropped catches and misfields, Bangladesh were rescued by pacer Ripon Mondol, who struck twice in two deliveries to all but seal the tie for the men in red and green.

India, needing 16 off the final over of the regular match, forced a tie thanks to late blows from Ashutosh Sharma and a final-ball scramble that exposed Bangladesh’s fielding frailties.

Spinner Rakibul Hasan bowled the decisive over, removing Ashutosh with a pinpoint yorker before India’s batters scrambled two runs off the last delivery after Akbar Ali failed to hit the stumps despite having the ball in hand. That single moment denied Bangladesh a one-run win and sent the contest to a Super Over.

Mondol made sure Bangladesh would not be left ruing their mistakes. His first Super Over delivery cleaned up Jitesh Sharma with a yorker, and his next ball, pitched in a similar area, saw Ashutosh pick out the fielder at cover.

Under Super Over rules, India could not continue after losing two wickets, setting Bangladesh a target of just one run.

Even then, the drama was not over. Yasir Ali was caught on the boundary attempting a six off Suyash Sharma’s first ball. Akbar Ali then walked in but did not need to play a shot as India conceded a wide, handing Bangladesh victory.

Earlier, Bangladesh posted 194 for six from their 20 overs, powered by Habibur Rahman Sohan’s 65 off 46 balls, featuring five sixes and three fours, and SM Meherab’s explosive unbeaten 48 from just 18 deliveries, which included six sixes and a four. Jisan Alam added 26 off 14 balls, while Yasir chipped in with 17 off nine. For India, Gurjapneet Singh claimed two wickets for 39.

India’s chase began in blistering fashion. Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed 19 runs off Ripon Mondol’s opening over with two sixes and a four, before adding two more sixes off SM Meherab in the next over.

His partner Priyansh Arya joined the assault in the third over with two sixes of his own, helping India race to 49 for no loss in just three overs.

Suryavanshi’s whirlwind knock ended on 38 off 15 balls when Abdul Gaffar Celine struck in the fourth over. India stuttered further when Naman Dhir fell to Abu Hider Rony for seven, but Arya kept them in control with a commanding 44 off 23 balls before falling to Rakibul in the tenth over.

Dropped catches then allowed India back into the contest. Jitesh capitalised to score 33 off 23, while Nehal Wadhera remained unbeaten on 32 off 29 as India levelled the scores despite losing momentum midway through the innings.

The defeat in the Super Over meant India could not carry their resurgence into the decider.

Bangladesh ‘A’ will face the winners of the second semi-final between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan Shaheens, scheduled for 23 November.