Australia U-19 prevail in a close battle
Ausrtalian Will Sutherland, who hit 115n.o. on the charge - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Australian Under 19 cricketers scored a hard fought eight run win in the 2nd ODI match to go up 2-0 in three match ODI series at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval yesterday.
Chasing 305 to win, Sri Lanka U-19′s were 297 for nine in their alloted 50 overs conceding an inaccessible lead in the series.
A run filled wicket and a fast outfield gave the real taste of one day cricket as a total number of 601 runs were scored only for the loss of 15 wickets. Six half centuries and a century were scored in this high scoring encounter and the closely contested game.
Winning the toss the young Australians scored 304 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Two entertaining partnership of 78 and 112 laid the foundation for the Aussies respectable total. Will Sutherland scored a brilliant 115 which included seven hits to the ropes and four over the ropes to be the top scorer for the Australians. He was associated a 112 run partnership for the 4th wicket with Keegan Oates who missed the century by just five runs. His innings included six boundaries and three sixes. Earlier Oates was associated with in a 78 run partnership for the 3rd wicket with Oliver Davis who made a lusty 52 with six fours and two sixes coming off in 48 deliveries.
Chamindu Wijesinghe was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler to claim 2 for 60 while left arm spinner Rohan Sanjaya captured a wicket giving away 51 runs in his 10 overs.
In their run chase Sri Lanka lost Navod Paranavithana off the first delivery of the first over edging to the wicket keeper. Sri Lankan batsmen followed the highest traditions of batsmanship by having a good look at the bowling and collecting singles, rotating the strike and making good use of the loose deliveries and the fast outfield. Never unsettled at the loss of the first wicket. M. Shamaaz (79 with 11 fours) and skipper Nipun Dananjaya (54 with four fours) put on a valuable 155 runs for the 3rd wicket off 123 deliveries laid a fine foundation. With the score standing at 150 for 2, Shamaaz returned to the pavilion with a cramp and at the same score Dananjaya was dismissed. Another fruitful partnership of 98 runs for the 5th wicket by Chamindu Wijesinghe 63 off 53 balls including nine fours and Sonal Dinusha took Sri Lanka in sight of a victory. Shamaaz walked in at the score of 249 for 5 but could not last long to be dismissed with only one run added to his personnel score.
I. Carlisle bowled a nagging length to keep the Lankan quiet captured 4 for 60 while L. Marshall and J.A. Freeman bowled well to capture 2 for 37 and and 2 for 53.
Wickets started to fall in regular intervals as Sonal Dinusha ran short of partners to remain 59 n.o. at the close Sri Lanka were 297-9 giving the Aussies an eight run win.
Chief Scores
- Australia Under 19-304 (50) (Keegan Oates 95, Oliver Davis 52, Will Sutherland 115, Lachlan Hearne 17 n.o. , Chamindu Wijesinghe 2 for 60, Rohan Sanjaya 1 for 51)
- Sri Lanka Under 19-297 for 9 (50) (M. Shamaaz 79, Nipun Dhananjaya 54, Chamindu Wijesinghe 63, Sonal Dinusha 59 n.o. , I. Carlisle 4 for 60, L. Marshall 2 for 37, J.A. Freeman 2 for 53)