Then the Lankan youth beat England in a Test
While their seniors thrashed the top ranked Test nation back at home, the Sri Lanka Under-19s too achieved success by recording a rare away win against the England Under-19s, beating them by 7 wickets at Northampton to wrap up the two-match Youth Test series 1-0.The match ended with a day to spare on Friday as the Sri Lanka youth gear up to play three Youth ODIs beginning from Wednesday.
Sri Lanka’s win was spearheaded by the well-built Lankan fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who captured seven and four wickets respectively in each innings, and went on to win the man-of-the-match award.
This was England’s first home defeat, incidentally also by Sri Lanka, in six years in a Youth Test after they lost in 2010 by 199 runs at the same venue in Northampton. Then England had present stars Joe Root and Jake Ball in the side while Kithruwan Vithanage, Charith Jayampathi and Ramith Rambukwella went on to represent Sri Lanka.
On Wednesday, in the 244th Youth Test, Sri Lanka won the toss and gave England the privilege to bat first, but the home team was totally undone by Kumara’s devastating bowling. Eventually, in spite of a fighting 111 not out from opener Max Holden England were restricted to 208. Kumara’s figures read as 28-5-82-7 as Sri Lanka replied with 307.
Lahiru Kumara (L) with skipper Charith Asalanka
Navindu Vithanage top scored for Sri Lanka with an elegant knock of 80 which came off from 183 deliveries inclusive of 10 fours. Middle-order batsman Jehan Daniel made 52 off 82 balls with 10 fours as opener Avishka Fernando made 49 off 74 deliveries inclusive of nine boundaries. Ed Barnes and George Panayi shared six wickets as Sri Lanka took a 99-run advantage from the first innings.
In their second innings England could not make much headway as they were restricted to 192 with Kumara claiming four more wickets. That accomplished Kumara with match figures of 11 for 134, leaving Sri Lanka only 94 runs for victory. This was achieved after losing three wickets as the Lankans raced to victory facing just 66 deliveries, meaning they won the two-match series 1-0 after England enjoyed the better of a rain-affected draw in Cambridge a week ago.
England will be keen to bounce back in a three-match Youth One-Day Series which starts at Wormsley on Wednesday, and ends with a day-night game at Canterburry next Tuesday with a game in-between on Saturday at Chelmsford.
Man-of-the match, Lahiru Kumara bagged 11 wickets
