Sri Lanka Under-19 tour of England Wanninayake and Somaratne frustrate English bowlers

By Lakshman Ranasinghe   

An excellent fourth wicket partnership and two masterly compiled innings helped Sri Lanka Under 19 to a comfortable position at stumps on the second day in the first Four Day Unofficial Youth Test against England Under -19s at Chelmsford, England.   

Sri Lanka were 301 for the loss of four wickets at the close in reply to England’s 387.   

The notable performance of the young Sri Lankans marked that they realised the value of occupying the crease for some time in the longer version of the game. Every Lankan batsman spent a considerable time at the middle made sizable contributions to the total.   

Continuing from overnight 25 for one wicket the Sri Lankans occupied the batting friendly wicket on day two facing 99 overs with a run rate of 3.04 runs per over.   

Opener Asitha Wanninayake was the star of the day stroking a masterly unbeaten 132 on day two. Earlier Shevon Daniel faced 33 deliveries for his 22 while Pawan Pathiraja made 32 off 95 balls including five boundaries. Then came the fourth wicket stand between opener Wanninayake and Ranuda Somaratne made use of the run friendly wicket to lift the moral of the team.   

Both batted with sense and responsibility waiting for the loose balls to be punched through the gaps to the boundary. Wanninayake , the lad from the hill capital was solid in defence and was a treat to watch his driving on the front foot. He took some time to settle and on finding the touch he made the English bowlers frustrate to see the ball whistling pass the fielders to the boundary with power.   

Wanninayake faced 302 deliveries and sent the ball to the lines on 19 occasions and was at the crease for 403 minutes to remain not out on 132 at the close.   

Somaratne joined Wanninayake with the scoreboard showing 3 for 133 and lent a good support to his senior partner rotating the strike, placing the ball into the gaps. Somaratne spent 167 minutes facing 114 deliveries with six hits to the ropes was associated in a fourth wicket partnership of 137 runs before being dismissed for a well compiled 65 runs in the 91st over.   

As the day neared its conclusion, the quiet Wanninayake and Somaratne started to break their shell and played a few more attacking shots. Both together had worn down the young English bowlers.   

With the exit of Somaratne skipper Raveen De Silva joined Wanninayake and remained on 19 at stumps.   

Chief Scores:

England Under 19 – 387 (Harry Singh 27, Ben McKinney 33, Ross Whitfield 86, George Bell 107, Bertie Foreman 58 not out; Dulaj Samuditha 2 for 105, Wanuja Sahan 2 for 56, Duvindu Ranatunga 4 for 100, Raveen De Silva 1 for 31, Shevon Daniel 1 for 19)   

Sri Lanka Under 19 – (Overnight 25 for one wicket) 301 for four wickets at stumps (Asitha Wanninayake 132 not out, Shevon Daniel 22, Pawan Pathiraja 32, Ranuda Somaratne 65, Raveen De Silva 19 not out; Benjamin Cliff 2 for 57, Eddie Jack 1 for 43, Berty Forman 1 for 62)