Skipper Dinura, Nathan, Diniru helps Sri Lanka U19 to make 304

Skipper Dinura Kalupahana, Nathan Caldera and Diniru Abeywickramasinghe helped Sri Lanka U19 resuming from their overnight score of 177 for 5 to make a formidable score of 304 runs on day three of the four-day first unofficial Test match against host England 19 played at Wormsley, England.

With no play being possible on day two, the third day’s play too got off to a late start due to bad weather with overnight pair skipper Kalupahana and Abeywickramasinghe adding a further 25 runs to their partnership for a 99-run stand for the sixth wicket, being separated with the dismissal of Abeywickramasinghe who made 43.

Skipper Kalupahana did not last long as he was dismissed having made a top knock of 104 in 144 balls which had 13 boundaries and a six.

Later Sri Lanka U19’s scoreboard was kept moving by Nathan Caldera, who made 55, as he shared two valuable partnerships, that of 45 runs for the eighth wicket with Vihas Thewmika and 44 runs for the ninth wicket with Praveen Maneesha, enabling Sri Lanka U19 to make a formidable score of 304 runs.

At the time of going to press England U19 in their turn, helped by two fine unbeaten knocks by Freddie McCann and Keshana Fonseka, were on 154 for 1 having faced 34 overs.

Result:
At Wormsley
Sri Lanka U19 (177/5 overnight) 324 (Dinura Karanda 104, Nathan Caldera 55, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 43, Mahith Perera 22, Vihas Thewmika 19: Alex French 4/81, Alex Green 2/36, Naavya Sharma 2/59)

England 19 154 for 1 (Freddie McCann 84 n.o., Keshana Fonseka 56 n.o.)