COLOMBO : Sri Lanka Under-19s (Young Cricketers) led the 5-match series 3-0 at the end of the third One Day International. Sri Lanka U19 led by Captain Dunith Wellalage won the third ODI by 3 wickets and completed a hat trick of wins by winning all 3 matches in the series.
First Youth ODI – Sri Lanka U19 Vs Bangladesh U19
In the third ODI, Bangladesh U19 batting first scored 184 off 49.3 overs with Ashiqur Zaman scoring an unbeaten 54 runs off 73 balls. Mathhesha Pathirana led the Sri Lankan U19 bowling attack with amazing figures of 5 wickets for 26 runs off just 6 overs. Raveen De Silva also took 3 for 38 runs in ten overs. Chasing the modest total, Sri Lanka U19 reached 188 runs for 7 wickets with 20 balls to spare. Shavon Daniel batted magnificently for 85 runs while Pawan Pathiraja continued his good form in the series with 31 runs off 42 balls. Wanuja Sahan contributed 38 runs off 53 balls to ensure Sri Lanka U19 cross the winning line and secure the series. Naimur Rahman got 3 wickets for the visitors while Hasan, Ariful Islam and Ashiqur Zaman picked up 2 wickets each.
Second Youth ODI – Sri Lanka U19 Vs Bangladesh U19
The 2nd Youth ODI held in Dambulla on 18th October was a match close to the nerve with Sri Lanka U19 winning by one run. Batting first Sri Lanka U19 set a target of 228 for 8 wickets (in 50 overs) with Sadeesh Jayawardena and Pawan Pathiraja scoring half centuries. Ripon Mondol took 3 for 49 for Bangladesh U19. Chasing 228, Bangladesh U-19 were all out for 227 in 49.3 overs. Dunith Wellalage and Matheesha Pathirana took 3 wickets bowling economically. Mahfijul Islam scored 75 off 96 balls for the visitors. Bangladesh needed 7 runs to win in the last over with 9 wickets down. Ashikur Zaman started positively with a boundary. However in the 3rd ball of the last over Ripon Mondol was run out by Pawan Pathiraja to give Sri Lank U19 a win by one run.
Third Youth ODI – Sri Lanka U19 Vs Bangladesh U19
Sri Lanka U19 won the opening match of the 5 match series against the Bangladesh U19 in style with a 42 run victory. The 1st Youth ODI was held on 15th October at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Sri Lanka U19 batting first scored 228 for 9 wickets (in 50 overs). Pawan Pathiraja scored 67 off 88 balls. Ripon Mondol of Bangladesh U19 picked up 3 wickets for 59 runs. Chasing the Sri Lankan score, Bangladesh U19 was bundled up for 186 runs in 46.2 overs. Treveen Mathew displayed amazing bowling technique to pick up 4 wickets for 29 runs (10 overs) while Shevon Daniel picked up 2 wickets for 21 runs in only 6 overs. Aich Mollah was the only batsman who could dominate Sri Lankan bowling attack and scored 86 runs off 93 balls. However, fall of wickets at regular intervals led Bangladesh U19 to submit to Sri Lanka U19 bowling attack.
The next two matches are scheduled on Saturday, October 23 and Monday, October 25 and both matches will be exciting since Bangladesh U 19 would play to save their pride and Sri Lanka U19 would be anticipating a white wash. (RZ)
