Asalanka sees Lankans to the quarters
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Sri Lanka U-19 skipper Charith Asalanka spearheaded Sri Lanka to victory
An allround performance from skipper Charith Asalanka was the highlight as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 33 runs in a low-scoring Group ‘B’ match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup played at the Sylhet International Stadium in Bangladesh yesterday. With this the Lankans have booked a berth in the quarter finals of the tournament.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat but were unexpectedly shocked by the decent bowling attack of the Afghans before being bowled out for 184 runs with eleven more deliveries remaining. Yet, things didn’t look pleasing for the young Afghans too, as they lost wickets at regular intervals in their run-chase before eventually being skittled out for 151 runs with 31 deliveries to spare. Asalanka top scored with 71 and returned to capture two wickets to become the player-of-the-match.
Sri Lanka had a good start, unlike in their opening game against Canada, as openers Kaveen Bandara and Avishka Fernando put on 48 runs off 49 balls. Fernando was the first batsman to fall after making a useful knock of 30 off 27 deliveries after hitting four boundaries and a six. Bandara was dismissed for 20 at 64 before skipper Asalanka took charge of the Sri Lanka innings.
Player-of-the-match Asalanka was associated in six partnerships with the best coming out with Wanindu Hasaranga for the sixth wicket where the duo added 62 runs.
Off-spinner Shamsurrahman was effective among the Afghan bowlers as he finished with impressive figures of three wickets conceeding just 19 runs off 10 overs. Fast bowler Karim Janat and left-arm spinner Zahir Khan picked two wickets each as left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman claimed a scalp.
Off-spinner Kamindu Mendis was the pick among the Sri Lankan bowlers as he took three wickets while off-spinner Asalanka and left-arm spinner Damitha Bandara took two wickets each. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, leg-spinner Thilan Nimesh and off-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed a wicket each.
After two wins Sri Lanka leads the Group ‘B’ points table followed by Pakistan, who have won two-out-of-two but with a much lower net run rate. Afghanistan and Canada are behind at third and fourth. Namibia leads Group ‘A’ with a win ahead of Bangladesh, South Africa and Scotland. The Group ‘C’ is led by England, who have won two game out of two, followed by Zimbabwe, West Indies and Fiji. The Group ‘D’ is led by India who has two wins under their belt. Nepal, who won their second game yesterday beating Ireland, is at second followed by New Zealand and Ireland. Sri Lanka will play their third game of the competition against Pakistan from Group ‘B’ on Wednesday (February 3) in Mirpur.
Sri Lanka U-19s 184 all out in 48.1 overs (Kaveen Bandara 20, Avishka Fernando 30, Charith Asalanka 71, Wanindu Hasaranga 20, Shamsurrahman 3/19, Zahir Khan 2/36, Karim Janat 2/37) Afghanistan U-19s 151 all out in 44.5 overs (Karim Janat 40, Ihsanullah 23, Waheedullah Shafaq 47, Kamindu Mendis 3/36, Charith Asalanka 2/18, Damitha Silva 2/33)
Other results:
At Sylhet: Pakistan beat Canada by 7 wickets with 55 balls remaining
Canada 178 all out (48.3): Pakistan 180 for 3 wickets (40.5)
At Dhaka: India beat New Zealand by 120 runs India 258 for 8 wickets (50): New Zealand 138 all out (31.3)
At Fatullah: Nepal beat Ireland by 8 wickets with 147 deliveries remaining
Ireland 131 for 9 wickets (50): Nepal 132 for 2 wickets (25.3)