Vaibhav Suryavanshi did not explode, but Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra turned into match-winners as India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets to storm into the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai.

Malhotra (61) and George (58) remained unbeaten as India chased down a target of 139 with two overs to spare. The one-dayer had been reduced to 20 overs per side due to rain.

Skipper Ayush Mhatre continued his poor run in the contest, dismissed for 7, and batting sensation Suryavanshi was removed in the fourth over for 9, leaving India at 25/2.

Hyderabad-Malayali George stepped up to steady the innings, forging a 114-run partnership with Malhotra, who was the fastest to a fifty today.

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George was adjudged player of the match for his timely knock that rescued India. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in the second semifinal.

The dream final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take place in Dubai on December 21.

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Brief scores: Sri Lanka 138/8 in 20 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 42, Vimath Dinsara 32, Sethmika Seneviratne 30, Henil Patel 2/31, Kanishk Chouhan 2/36) lost to India 139/2 in 18 overs (Vihan Malhotra 61, Aaron George 58, Rasith Nimsara 2/31)

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