Skipper Kalupahana shines in rain-affected match

Sri Lanka U19 skipper Dinura Kalupahana shone as he came to the rescue when the side was in dire straits against host England U19 in the first unofficial Test match played at Wormsley in England.

Sri Lanka U19 invited to take first lease of the wicket were made to struggle after losing their first wicket in the second over with the score on seven.

They fell further into trouble when they lost three quick wickets for the addition of 30 runs and were struggling on 37 for 4 before skipper Kalupahana walked into the crease and joined Mahith Perera.

With the pair having added 12 runs the match was stopped due to rain, with the delay of nearly two hours.

On resumption, the duo played with caution and denied success for England 19 bowlers for a considerable period and in the process the pair posted the 100 runs for Sri Lanka U19.

But three runs later the pair were separated with the dismissal of Mahith Perera who made a contribution of 22 runs, associating in a valuable 66 run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Skipper Kalupahana found another reliable partner in Diniru Abeywickramasinghe who together further frustrated the England U19 bowlers and Kalupahana reached his ton which followed with the pair posting their 50 runs stand for the sixth wicket.

With the pair having added 74 runs the match was again stopped due to rain with Kalupahana unbeaten on 70 made in 115 balls comprising of eight boundaries and a six and Abeywickramasinghe on 35 coming off 41 balls with six boundaries and Sri Lanka U19 on 177 for 5 having faced 42.4 overs.

- MSA