Sri Lanka U19 vs Bangladesh U19 Sri Lanka U19 aiming to maintain winning trend

By M. Shamil Amit

Sri Lanka U19 led by allrounder Dunith Wellalage, who began their five-match Youth ODI series against the visiting Bangladesh counterparts with a comfortable win, will no doubt aim to maintain their winning trend when they confront the visitors in the second fixture set to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium today.
The Sri Lanka U19, who came into the first game played at the same venue with six players making their debut in Pawan Pathiraja, Jeewaka Shasheen, Sadeesh Jayawardena, Shevon Daniel, Sadisha Rajapakse and Treveen Mathews, put in a fine display to overcome the confident reigning ICC World U19 champions by 42 runs.
In fact, the two heroes of the winning side were debutants Pathiraja who laid the foundation with a fine knock of 67 runs and right-arm spinner Mathews who ended with impressive figures of 4 for 29 his 10-over quota.
In contrast, the visiting Bangladesh side led by S.M. Meherob were let down by their batsmen and apart from Aich Mollah, who made a top score of 86 and Ariful Islam who chipped in with 38, the others failed to make any impression as eight of their batsmen were unable to reach the double-figure mark.

In fact, the two heroes of the winning side were debutants Pathiraja who laid the foundation with a fine knock of 67 runs and right-arm spinner Mathews who ended with impressive figures of 4 for 29 his 10-over quota.

Sri Lanka U19 will be looking for a repeat of Pathiraja’s first match triumphs and support from players in the likes of Rajapakse, Raveen de Silva, skipper Wellalage, Yasiru Rodrigo, Jayawardena and Shasheen to name a few will be expected.

The top-order batting needs to be more positive as they failed to make any impression which saw the host side struggling on 32/3 before Pathiraja came to the rescue with his valuable knock. 

In the bowling department, Mathews will be looking for support from Daniel who ended with two wickets in the first fixture, Matheesha Pathirana and Wellalage to curtail the visitors.

On the other hand, the reigning champions Bangladesh for sure would have remedied their shortcomings of the first encounter and they are known as fighters who are capable of making a comeback.

They will no doubt depend on top-scorer Mollah and according to sources, the team possesses top-notch batsmen who, though having failed in the first match, will be expected to show their prowess in today’s encounter and will be looking for players in the likes of Ariful Islam, Iftikher Hossain, Meherob and Prantik Nawrose Nabil to come to form if they are to make an impression.

The bowling will revolve around the opening pair Ripon Mondol and Ashikur Zaman along with Golan Kibria, Meherob, Naimur Rohman and Islam who together will have to combine with effect to restrict the host side’s batting.

Sri Lanka U19 will be looking for a repeat of Pathiraja’s first match triumphs and support from players in the likes of Rajapakse, Raveen de Silva, skipper Wellalage, Yasiru Rodrigo, Jayawardena and Shasheen to name a few will be expected.

However, the Sri Lanka U19, though they began on a winning note, cannot sit on their laurels as they must not forget that they are confronting the reigning world champions who for sure will look to maintain their prestige.