With a thumping seven-wicket win in the third youth one-dayer, India Under-19s claimed the three-match series 2-0 against Sri Lanka Under-19s at the at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Sarfarz Khan (four wickets) and Kuldeep Yadav (three wickets) helped the visitors bundle out the opposition for a paltry 137. The Indian batsmen chased down the target with over 17 overs to spare.
Vijay Zol opted to field first after winning the toss. Khan and Yadav ran through the Sri Lankan line-up after Lamba set the ball rolling with the wicket of Sadeera Samarawickrama. Singh then caught the SL skipper Kusal Mendis off his own bowling 13 runs later. Five overs later Bhanuka was sent back by Yadav leaving the hosts on 51 for three.
Sanjika Ridma then joined Priyamal Perera and helped add 59 runs for the fourth wicket before being removed by Khan triggering a batting collapse. The rest of the batsmen failed to even reach double-digit figures. Perera was the last to return to the dressing room, castled by Khan for 50 to complete his four-for.
The Indian colts then coasted to the target with ease. Debutant Shubham Khajuria and Akhil Herwadkar added 39-runs for the first wicket before the latter was trapped leg-before by AK Tyronne. The bowler then claimed the prize wicket of Zol for 23. Sanju Samson then joined Khajuria to take the innings forward and the partnership was worth 29 when Perera struck to remove the opener.
India were well within the reach of target when Mohammad Saif came to the crease and joined Samson to take the team across the line. Samson remained unbeaten on 31 with Saif (22*) as they clinched the match and series for India U19.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka U19 137 all out in 39.1 overs (P Perera 50, M Bhanuka 42, S Khan 4/27, K Yadav 3/16) lost to India U19 141/3 in 32.5 overs (S Khajuria 34, S Samson 31*, AK Tyronne 2/27) by 7 wickets.
