Sri Lanka U19 – England U19 Skipper Wellalage’s effort in vain

By M. Shamil Amit

An allround performance by skipper Dunith Wellalalge who ended with a five wicket haul and made a top score of 68 was in vain as it could not prevent the visiting England Under 19 from securing a 25 run win in the first Youth ODI encounter played at the SSC ground yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in the five match series.

Sri Lanka Under 19 in pursuit of 243 runs for victory was in deep trouble when they lost the top five wickets with the score on 90 in the 23rd over.

Skipper Wellalage and Ranuda Somaratne came to the rescue of the side as they frustrated the opposition bowlers to associate in a valuable 102 run partnership for the sixth wicket.
The separation of the pair with the dismissal of skipper Wellalage who made a run a ball knock of 68 runs that included six boundaries and a six saw them falling back.
Somaratne did not last long as he followed having made 57 and with Sri Lanka Under 19 needing 27 runs from 23 balls was unable to make any headway as they lost the last three wickets for the addition of just one run being bowled out 216 runs.

Earlier Engalnd Under 19 invited to take first lease of the wicket having lost three wickets with 74 runs on the board was bolstered by a valuable 86 runs for the fourth wicket between James Rew and William Luxton enabling them to end their innings with a modest score of 242 runs.

The two teams will play their second match on December 3 at the same venue.

At SSC – England Under 19 won by 25 runs

England Under 19: 242 in 49.3 overs (William Luxton 44, James Rew 40, George Thomas 27, Jacob Bethell 23, Rehan Ahmed 23, Tom Prest 22, James Sales 28 n.o.: Dunith Wellalage 5 for 30)

Sri Lanka Under19: 217 in 47.3 overs (Dunith Wellalage 68, Ranuda Somaratne 57, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 34, Anjala Bandara 20: Joshua Boyden 3 for 27, Rehan Ahmed 2 for 31, Tom Prest 2 for 36, Josh Baker 2 for 46)