Lankan teens record historic win
View(s):Sri Lanka Under-17s led by Chamika Karunaratne recorded a historic win by thrashing the England Under-17s by an inning and 81 runs on the final day of their three-day match which ended at Bedfordshire in England yesterday.
The England juniors trailing by 209 runs to cover an innings defeat were bowled out for 128 with a session and a half remaining as the lads from the Indian Ocean Island walked out as proud victors after recording the first ever win against an England team at this format.
At lunch, England were 89 runs for the loss of eight wickets as Harvey Hosein and Jamie Odell delayed a possible Sri Lankan win. They were bowled out for 190 runs in the first innings while Sri Lanka in reply made 399 for 9 wickets.
Trinity off-spinner Ravin Sayer, a match bag of ten wickets
Hosein and Odell adamantly batted for 22 overs to feature in a partnership worth 50 runs for the ninth wicket. Playing a marathon knock Hosein made 40 runs from 141 as Odell hit 23 from 101 balls, desperately battling for a draw. But Thilina Nimesh, who engineered the England collapse made the breakthrough by trapping Hosein lbw in the 35th over while Odell carried on to frustrate the Lankan lads paring up with tailender Saqib Mahmood. The last England pair added further 27 runs before Sri Lanka’s hero Ravin Sayer claimed his tenth wicket of the match to wrap the home team for 128.
England who batted for the second time lost early wickets as skipper Karunaratne claimed the first by sending back opener Anuj Dal for three at 10. Spinner Lasith Lakshan claimed the priceless wicket of danger man Joe Weatherley for nine at 30 and followed up his good form by claiming the second in his following over by taking a clean return catch of Aneurin Donald.
Bradley Taylor was seen off by spinner Sayer trapped him leg before as the fourth English wicket at 42. Sayer who claimed magical figures of 8 for 71 in the first innings took a total of nine victims in both innings. England could not move ahead further as they two more quick wickets at 46. Avishka Fernando brilliantly ran out top order batsman Kieran Smith, who was building up the England innings with a steady and adamant knock of 15 runs from 82 balls, before Tom Moores was caught by Sahan Arachchige in the deep off Thilina Nimesh for a duck in the same over. England put themselves in further trouble when they lost two more wickets at 51.Sithara Gimhana took a simple catch at mid off Asitha Madushanka to send back Rob Jones for a duck in the 34th over of the innings. Nimesh claimed his second wicket in the next over by bringing the anchorman, Mosun Hussain’s marathon knock of nine off 42 balls to an end by trapping him leg before.
Sri Lanka who were 115 for 2 overnight went on to add 284 runs before their inning was halted at 399 with an advantage of 209 runs. Overnight batsman Avishka Fernando who was 31 not out went on to hit a brilliant 56 off 108 balls inclusive of eight boundaries. Lasith Lakshan (28), Sithara Gimhana (26) and Madawa Nimesh (23) chipped in with useful knocks before Kaveen Bandara made his entry to stream-role with a elegant 109 from 177 balls. Bandara hit 12 fours and associated in two partnerships with Fernando and Sahan Arachchige. With Fernando, Bandara added 140 runs for the sixth wicket and went on to put on 70 runs for the seventh wicket with Arachchige who made 60 off 131 balls. Skipper Karunaratne who came in late hit a cameo 66 off 75 deliveries, inclusive of nine fours and a six. Bradley Taylor picked three wickets.
Sri Lanka nearly missed the chance of recording a thrilling win in their first game against the England Under-17s which was a two-dayer. Sri Lanka had to make six runs off the final delivery of the match chasing 137 runs for victory in the second innings, but managed to hit a four. England were bowled out for 179 and 231 in their respective innings in that match played at Leicestershire. Sri Lanka declared at 273 for 9 and were 136 for 8 at close of play. Sri Lanka will play three 50-over games against the same opponents before finishing their tour next Saturday.
England U-17s 190 all out in 67 overs (Joe Weatherley 57, Anuj Dal 30, Kieran Smith 30, Rob Jones 20n.o, Jamie Odell 20, Ravin Sayer 8/71) and 128 all out in 80.5 overs (Kieran Smith 15, Harvey Hosein 40, Jamie Odell 23, Thilina Nimesh 3/28, Lasith Lakshan 2/15, Ravin Sayer 2/27)
Sri Lanka U-17s (115-2 overnight) 399 for 9 wickets declared in 104 overs (Lasith Lakshan 28, Avishka Fernando 56, Madawa Nimesh 23, Sithara Gimhan 26, Kaveen Bandara 109, Sahan Arachchige 60, Chamika Karunaratne 66, Bradley Taylor 3/96)
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus