Sri Lankan Youth in cakewalk win at U-19 Asia Cup opener
Dimantha and Kavija
Sri Lanka Under-19s opened their Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a commanding 8-wicket victory over Nepal Under-19s in their Group B encounter in Dubai on Saturday.
After opting to field first, Sri Lanka’s bowlers set the tone early and never allowed Nepal to settle. The standout performance came from paceman Sethmika Seneviratne, who delivered a superb spell to dismantle the Nepal batting line up, finishing with a five wicket haul (5/25) that effectively decided the contest well before the halfway stage of the innings.
Nepal were bundled out for a modest 82 in just 14.5 overs, a total that reflected both the pressure applied by Sri Lanka and the lack of partnerships from the opposition. Sethmika was well supported by the rest of the attack, with the new ball bowlers striking early and the spinners tightening the screws through the middle overs. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and Nepal never managed to recover from a shaky start, as their innings unravelled quickly.
Chasing a target of 83, Sri Lanka approached the run chase with calm assurance. Despite the loss of two quick wickets, batters Dimantha Mahavithana (39 not out) and Kavija Gamage (24 not out) showed maturity, ensuring there were no unnecessary alarms. The required runs were knocked off comfortably in 14.5 overs, with Sri Lanka reaching 84-2 to bring the match to an early close.
The pair of Dimantha and Kavija 59-run unbeaten stand for the third wicket as they played with composure, rotating the strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries to finish the game with plenty of overs to spare. Sri Lankan youth will meet Afghanistan U-19s in their second group game at the Academy Stadium in Dubai tomorrow.
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