By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka U19s coasted to a comfortable 65-run win over England U19s in the first of three one-day internationals played at Chelmsford yesterday.
Sri Lanka was on song right from the word go amassing 294 for 6 powered by half-centuries by Dinura Kalupahana who smashed 52 from just 37 balls inclusive of while Sharujan Shanmuganathan struck 57 off 75 with 7 boundaries and and Mahith Perera 58 off 60 hitting 4 boundaries and a six and Diniru Abeywickramasinghe a cameo 52 off 37 with 2 sixes and 2 boundaries.Noah Cornwell was the pick of the England bowlers with claiming 3 for 54.
England’s run chase was nullified when off spinners Vihas Thewmika and Thisara Ekanayake struck. Freddie McCann was bowled by Thewmika for 10 by one that kept low and Si Lankan born Keshana Fonseka, who had hit 5 boundaries in his 25, lobbed to short third man off Ekanayake.
Praveen Maneesha then stepped in to castigate England with two wickets in the space of seven balls as England buckled for 229 in 43.3 overs with half centuries Noah Tharin 58 off 69 with 7 boundaries and Lue Bnkenstein run a ball 51 with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. Rocky Flintoff, son of former England superstar Freddie Flintoff, fell for 22 to Hivin Kenula who had him caught by Gayana Weerasinghe. Thewmika finished with the best figures of 3 for 37 for the Lankans.
CHIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka U19s 294/6 (50 Overs) RR: 5.88
(Mahith Perera n.o. 58, Sharuhan Shanmuganathan 57, Diniru Abeywickramasinghe 52, Dinura Kalupaha 49, Gayana Weerasinghe 20, Pulindu Perera 19, Thisara Ekanayake 13, Noah Cornwell 3/54, Farhan Ahmed 1/38, Noah Thain 1/39)
England U19s 229 (43.3 Overs) RR: 5.26
(Noah Tharin 58, Lue Bnkenstein 51, Keshana Fonseka 25, Harry Moore 26, Rocky Flintoff 22, Vihas Thewmika 3/37, Hiyin Kenula 2/28, Thisara Ekanayake 2/48, Dinura Kalupahana 1/24)
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