Skipper Kusal’s ton helps Sri Lanka U19 take lead
A captain’s knock of 103 in 104 balls with ten boundaries and two sixes by Kusal Mendis paved the way for Sri Lanka U-19s to record a convincing 95-run win against Australia in the first Youth ODI series played at the Colts ground yesterday. The win gave the hosts an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Skipper Kusal who came into the crease at the fall of the first wicket, took the responsibility while wickets fell at the other end. A significant partnership was amiss in the top order as Kusal solely resisted the Australian bowlers.
Skipper Kusal Mendis pulls one - Pic by Ranjith Perera
The only significant partnership was for the sixth wicket, which involved skipper Kusal and Harsha Rajapakse who together added 75 runs. But the pair were sent back to the pavilion at the same score of Kusal’s dismissal at 222. However the late order batting of the Sri Lanka U19s was able to add a further 40 runs in the seven overs that remained to end with a challenging score of 262 for 8. For the Australia U19s the left and right arm pace combination of Mathew Fotia and James Bazley were the pick of the bowlers.
The Australia U19s though making a sedate start with openers Kelvin Smith and Matthew Short adding 23 runs, lost two quick wickets there after and slid to 28 for 3 in the eighth over. They never recovered from that setback and was struggling with six of their top batsmen back in the pavilion with just 57 runs on the board at the completion of the 18th over.
The late order batting comprising of skipper Alex Gregory and
Cameron Valente added valuable 64 runs for the seventh wicket. But it was insufficient as they folded up for a score of 167.
The two sides will play their other two matches on February 3 at Colts ground and February 6 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Under-19 262 for 8 in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 103, Harsha Rajapakse 33, Hashan Dumindu 27, Binura Fernando 16, Anuk Fernando 19 n.o.: James Bazley 3 for 32, Mathew Fotia 3 for 63)
Australia Under-19 167 in 45.1 overs (Cameron Valente 47, Alex Gregory 27, Thomas Andrews 20, Damien Mortimer 17: Harsha Rajapakse 3 for 21, A.K. Tyrone 2 for 30, Lakshan Jayasinghe 2 for 31)