Do or die battle for both Sri Lanka and England
Charith Asalanka should strike back
With the sole aim of reaching the top, Sri Lanka youth cricketers will step into the knockout stage of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, as they take on England in the second quarter-final of the competition at Dhaka Stadium in Bangladesh today.
With two wins – against Canada by 196 runs and Afghanistan by 33 runs, Sri Lanka had an optimistic run until they were stalled by Pakistan by 23 runs in a low-scoring Group ‘B’ match.
England, playing in Group ‘C’ won comprehensively against Fiji by 299 runs, West Indies by 61 runs and Zimbabwe by 129 runs to top the group but they are yet to face a tough opponent.
The game is a do-or-die battle for both Sri Lanka and England.
Sri Lanka had reasons to be content with when skipper Charith Asalanka and his deputy Sammu Ashan became firebrands with batting and bowling in the first two game.
The duo also performed well in the two warm-up games played prior to the main competition but lately Asalanka and Ashan have gone off colour.
Opener Kaveen Bandara, wicketkeeper batsman Vishad Randika and middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis have been notable contributors to Sri Lanka but erratically.
Asalanka scored 76 against Canada and 71 against Afghanistan while Ashan made 74 in the first game.
Randika hit 51 against Canada and 46 against Pakistan. Mendis has taken three wickets against Afghanistan and top scored with 68 in the losing game against Pakistan.
In bowling Damitha Silva has been in constant touch with two wickets each in three outings while Thilan Nimesh has four wickets to his account.
In comparison England has good performers in all departments. Their opener Dan Lawrence and No.3 batsman Jack Burnham are unstoppable and are in tremendous form.
Lawrence scored 174 against Fiji, 55 against West Indies and 59 against Zimbabwe while Burnham has two centuries to his account – 148 against Fiji and 106 against Zimbabwe.
He also hit 44 against West Indies. Other batsmen in touch are Cullum Taylor, George Bertlett and Max Holden. Fast bowler Sajqib Mahmood can be Sri Lanka’s nightmare if he is not dealt with perfectly by the Lankan batsmen. Mahmood has claimed 11 wickets so far – three against Fiji, four each against West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Prior to today’s crucial game Sri Lankan youth had met the England youth twice in Sri Lanka two months ago at the R. Premadasa Stadium, where conditions are somewhat similar to Dhaka.
The two sides were featured in a Triangular with the third nation being former Youth World Cup champs, India. The Lankan youth beat England once and were on their way to record a second win until rain stopped proceedings ended the game in a No Result.
The Lankan youth also came up with good performances against India, nearly beating them twice before really facing the wrath of the eventual winners in the final.
In the last World Cup played in Dubai in 2014, Sri Lanka managed to pull off a thrilling 1-wicket win but the nature of the teams have changed since then. But today’s ball game is a totally different one.
Taking the outcomes of the competition so far, England has a perfect edge of claiming a win, though the Lankans have the ability to create an upset.
If Sri Lanka beats England to reach the semi-final stage, it will be the best achievement since 2010. In 2014 Sri Lanka finished eighth while England was the third best next to title holder South Africa and losing finalist Pakistan.
Sri Lanka’s best at an Under-19 World Cup is when they became runners-up to India in 2000. If they manage to overcome England and move forward, it will be the second time the Lankans reach a final.