The Vijay Zol-led Indian colts took a 1-0 lead in three one-day series with a 22-run win against Sri Lanka Under-19s in a closely-fought second encounter at the Welagedara Stadium. Rain had played spoil sport in the first game on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, India Under-19 openers Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar got the visitors off to a good start and put together 70 runs, until the latter was dismissed. Introduced into the attack in the 15th over, pacer Chamika Karunaratne broke the partnership in his very first over and followed up with the wickets of Bains and Sanju Smason in his next two overs to push India on the back foot. Eight overs later, Roshan Anurudda claimed Sarfaraz Khan to leave India U19 on 115 for four.
Ricky Bhui then joined Vijay Zol to arrest the fall of wickets and helped built a valuable stand of 62, before Anurudda struck again to remove the captain for 67. However, the Indian lower order added quick runs to help post a competitive total on the board, before getting bowled out.
After Saveen Nanayakkara removed Deepak Hooda and Bhui, Karunaratne claimed Atit Sheth as his fourth scalp. And while Kuldeep Yadav was run out, Anurudda claimed Aamir Gani to bowl India out for 240 runs, with eight balls still remaining in the innings.
Then, Sheth gave India an early breakthrough with the wicket of Minod Bhanuka in the third over, while Abhimanyu Lamba followed up with the wicket of Kavindu Kulasekara in the next. And although they lost skipper Kusal Mendis a bit later and were struggling on 44 for three, the middle order rallied on. Priyamal Perera made 47, before being castled by Lamba, while Thilaksha Sumanasiri held up one end. But the No.6 bat’s efforts were in vain as he ran out of partners and remained unbeaten on 73.
With 23 runs still required to win, the hosts lost Nanayakkara and Binura Fernando in quick succession. While the former was sent back by Yadav, Fernando was run out off the last ball of the 47th over, thereby ending the SL U19 innings for 218.
Lamba picked three wickets, while Yadav and Gani claimed two apiece and Sheth claimed one batter.
Brief scores: India U19 240 all-out in 48.4 overs (V Zol 67, A Bains 38, C Karunaratne 4/44, R Anurudda 3/45) beat Sri Lanka U19 218 all-out in 47 overs (T Sumanasiri 73*, P Perera 47, A Lamba 3/35, K Yadav 2/35, A Gani 2/41) by 22 runs
