Mumbai, Aug 7: India beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs in their first warm-up game ahead of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012, at the Bill Albury Oval in Brisbane.
Opting to bat first, the India youngsters posted 191 for the loss of eight wickets after losing their top three batsmen with just 32 runs on the board. Skipper Unmukt Chand was the first to return, for seven, after edging Chamod Pathirana to the wicketkeeper. Baba Aparajith, who replaced him at the crease, was also sent back by the paceman, for zero, with the score still on 22. 10 runs later, opener Akhil Herwadkar was dismissed by Lahiru Madushanka.
Hanuman Vihari, who came into the squad for the injured Manan Vohara, then steadied the Indian innings with Vijay Zol. The duo added 98 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was dismissed by Amila Aponso for 43. In the next over, Vihari fell to Sanitha de Mel for 64 who also claimed Akshdeep Nath in his next over. He was followed back by Sandipan Das, castled for four; a little while later, Prashant Chopra departed after adding 10 runs. However, Samit Patel unbeaten on 16 along with Rush Kalaria who made a quick 21 not out off 15, helping India reach a modest total.
Defending the total, the Indian bowlers wrapped up the Sri Lanka U-19s for 158 in 45.5 overs. Kamal Passi gave India their first breakthrough with the wicket of SL opener Sebastian Perera for one in the sixth over. But it took about eight overs before Vikas Mishra bowled Shehan Fernando in the 14th over.
Pabasara Waduge and Angelo Jayasinghe then built a 33-run stand, the highest partnership of the SL innings, until the opener was picked by Ravi Kant Singh for 33. Angelo, who valiantly anchored the SL innings as wickets tumbled at the other end, was left stranded on 64 not out.
The bowlers kept the batsmen on a tight leash and picked wickets at regular intervals. Mishra followed up with the wicket of Sandun Weerakkody while Aparajith claimed Niroshan Dickwella and later dismantled de Mel’s woodwork. Passi added two more scalps to his tally to finish with three for 34. With two of the lower-order batsmen run out, the SL innings folded with 25 balls to spare.
Brief scores: India 191/8 in 50 overs (H Vihari 64, V Zol 43, C Pathirana 2/13, L Madhushanka 2/28) beat Sri Lanka 158 all out in 45.5 overs (A Jayasinghe 64*, P Waduge 33, K Passi 3/34, V Mishra 2/30, B Aparajith 2/30) by 33 runs
