PASINDU ANCHORS SRI LANKA U-19 INNINGS
India U-19 makes bold reply First Youth Test at NCC
Pasindu Sooriyabandara shone for Sri Lanka Under-19 with a fine knock of 69 to help his side post a modest score of 244 runs against India Under19 on the opening day of the first Youth Test match played at the NCC Grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.
Pasindu collected his runs from 134 deliveries inclusive of four boundaries and three sixes.
He also put on a valuable 78-run stand for the fifth wicket along with Sandun Mendis who made 39 runs.
Sri Lanka Under-19 Skipper Nipun Dhananjaya won the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket but lost their first wicket with the score at 20. Dhananjaya and Nishan Madushka added 53 runs for the second wicket. Later, Nuwanidu Fernando was associated in a 35-run partnership with Sooriyabandara before the latter put on the valuable partnership with Sandun Mendis.
But India Under-19 left-arm and right-arm spin combination of Harsha Tyagi and Ayush Badoni wrecked Sri Lanka Under-19s lower batting as they shared eight wickets between them to restrict the home side for 244 runs.
Sri Lanka Under-19 who were in a strong position at 206 for four lost their remaining six wickets for the addition of 38 runs with Badoni capturing the last four wickets to fall.
India Under-19 in reply went on the rampage paying scant respect for the Sri Lanka Under-19 bowler as they accumulated their runs with ease spearheaded by Skipper Anuj Rawat.
Kalhara Senaratne made the breakthrough for the hosts dismissing Anuj who made a brisk 63 runs in just 59 balls that included eight boundaries and two sixes. Sri Lanka Under-19: 244 (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 69, Nishan Madushka 39, Nipun Dhananjaya 39, Sandun Mendis 39, Nuwanidu Fernando 22, Ayush Badoni 4/24, Harshi Tyagi 4/92) India Under-19: 92/1 (Anuj Rawat 63, Artharva Taide 26 n.o).