Sri Lanka U-19s in dramatic win over Australia U19s

Sri Lanka in dramatic win over Aussie Sri Lanka vs Australia Youth test Sri Lanka registered a dramatic three wicket win with two balls to spare in the three day Youth Test between Sri Lanka Under 19 and Australia Under 19 at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Chasing a target of 112 in 20 overs, Sri Lanka youth players reached the target with ease erupting wild celebrations among the team members. This was a major turn-around for the Lankan players who  earlier conceded the three-match limited over series 2-1. 

The architect of Sri Lanka’s victory were left-arm spinner Rohan Sanajaya (31-16-37-4) and off spinner Sandun Mendis (18.4-4-56-4) who ran through the Australia’s second innings fiercely to leave them with a competitive total to chase.  Sanjaya enjoyed a memorable match with a match bag of 9 for 131 who had a big hand in this exciting win. Chasing a victory target of 112 Sri Lanka started off on the wrong foot losing opener Thaveesha Abhishek off the second ball off Zak Evens. Lankans found themselves in further trouble with the scoreboard reading 4 for 48. The game swung in Sri Lankan's way when Chamindu Wijesinghe scored 16 runs in the 16th over. With the exit of skipper Dhanajaya for 35 in the 17th over with the score at 95 ending a match winning partnership of 46 runs. 

Excellent running between the wickets by Wijesinghe and Mendis upset the Australian field settings and with the score at 103 for 6 in the 18th over Wijesinghe was dismissed. With the exit of Chilan Kalindu at 108 for 7 (14th Over) Mendis finished off the match with an elegant cover drive to finish off the match with a victory for Sri Lanka Under 19s. Australian paceman Zak Evens bowled unchanged claimed 6 for 44.

Chief Scores: Australia Under 19-269 (Cory Hunter 71, Keegan Oates 27, Baxter Holt 60, Jerrod Freeman 36, Ruwin Pieris 2 for 40, Rohan Sanjaya 5 for 94) and 151-Lachlan Hearne 23, Jerrod Freeman 52 n.o., Tanveer Sangha 25, Rohan Sanjaya 4 for 37, Sandun Mendis 4 for 56)

Sri Lanka Under 19-(Overnight 287 for 7) 309 for 8 decl. (Thaveesha Abhishek 36, Mohomed Samaz 43, Kamil Mishra 105, Nipun Dhananjaya 20, Sandun Mendis 22, Rohan Sanjaya 19 n.o., Chamindu Wijesinghe 35, Zak Evens 2 for 57, Jerrod Freeman 3 for 82, Tanveer Sangha 2 for 61) and 114 for 7 (Mohomed Samaz 22, Nipun Dhananjaya 35, Chamindu Wijesinghe 29, Zak Evens 6 for 44)