Sri Lanka U19 on verge of series win

The Sri Lanka Under 19 team were in a strong position and on the verge of a series win when play ended on day three in the 2nd unofficial Test match against the visiting West Under 19 team at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. 

It was the spin trio Vihas Thewmika, Malsha Tharupathi and Kaveesha Piyumal together sharing seven wickets so far who put the home side in a match winning position. 

The West Indies Under 19 batting the second time and left with a task of erasing a deficit of 199 runs ended the day on 251 for 8 just holding on to a 52-run lead. 

The visitors began their innings on a positive note with their openers Stephan Pascal and Steve Wedderburn giving them a sedate start of 39. 

This followed with first innings top scorer Jordan Johnson sharing two valuable partnerships first of 71 runs for the second wicked with Wedderburn and the other of 48 runs for the third wicket with Mavendra Dindyal. 

But from there on they lost wickets at regular intervals as Johnson who remained unbeaten on 133 which came of 136 balls that included 16 boundaries and a six was forced to see losing his partners at the other end. 

Right arm spinner Thewmika with three more scalps and has bagged eight in all while Tharupathi and Piyumal shared four wickets between them. 

The morning session of the third day’s proceedings belonged to all rounder Tharupathi who put in a fine batting performance in the latter part of the Sri Lanka Under 19 innings as he slammed a quick fire 48 ball knock of 70 inclusive of six boundaries and four sixes. 

This was after overnight pair Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Dinura Kalupahana who had ended day two with an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 40 runs going on to add a further 21 runs for a 61 runs stand before they were separated with the dismissal of Kalupahana with the host sides’ score on 212 and with that they lost two quick wickets for the addition of 20 runs. 

From there Tharupathi and Thewmika together wrecked the West Indies Under 19 innings and further frustrated them, this time with their batting prowess as the pair sent the bowlers on a leather hunt and succeeded to put on a valuable 81 runs stand in only 63 balls which came to an end with Tharupathi’s dismissal before they were bowled out for 326 giving Sri Lanka Under 19 a lead of 199 runs. 

The match will be continued tomorrow. (Shamil Amit)

Result:
At Dambulla

• West Indies Under 19 127 (Jordan Johnson 52, Stephan Pascal 28, Steve Wedderburn 24; Vihas Thewmika 5 for 43, Malsha Tharupathi 3 for 16) and 251 for 8 (Steve Wedderburn 37, Stephan Pascal 25, Devonie Joseph 16, Joshua Dorne 16, Mavendra Dindyal 15, Jordan Johnson 133 n.o.; Vihas Thewmika 3 for 55, Malsha Tharupathi 2 for 44, Kaveesha Piyumal 2 for 55).
• Sri Lanka Under 19 (191/4 overnight) 326 (Malsha Tharupathi 70, Rusanda Gamage 58, Ravishan de Silva 43, Pulindu Perera 41, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 36, Dinura Kalupahana 33, Vihas Themika 31 n.o.; Nathan Sealy 4 for 82, Isai Thorne 2 for 64, Tariqque Edward 2 for 75).