The Sri Lankans returned home after a successful triangular against India and Bangladesh beating the Indians convincingly in the finals. After suffering some heavy defeats back in India the Lions pulled up their socks to give the two Asian nations a run for their money winning six out of seven matches. 

The junior under 19 team lead by St.Peters skipper Chathura Peiris left the island to compete in the most prestigious tournament of all, the under 19 world cup which is played in New Zealand.

The teams were broken into four groups of three with Sri Lanka sharing group ‘D’ with the likes of Canada, Zimbabwe and the host nation and a power house of the game New Zealand. The other groups were as follows. 

Group ‘A’- India, England, Afghanistan, Hong Kong 

Group ‘B’ - South Africa, Australia, Ireland, USA

Group ‘C’ - New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada

Group ‘D’ - Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Papua New Guinea

It was an encouraging site to see teams like Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Canada taking part in the big league with some heavyweights. Last time around in Malaysia we saw the young Indians under the captaincy of current Indian number three batsman Virat Kohli. He lead the team brilliantly and it paid dividends as they went in unbeaten and were the undisputed champions of the cricketing world in the year 2008.  

The Sri Lankan team have come out with some commendable performances but have lacked consistency, but their nothing short of class with the likes of Rumesh Buddika, Dhanushka Gunathilake,Kithruwan Withanage, Bhuanuka Rajapakse, Chathura Peiris, Nadeera Rajaguru, Charith Jayampathy and the lot. Below is the squad of fifteen members who took sail to the land of the Kiwis. 

Squad : Chathura Peiris (Captain), Kithuruwan Vithanage (Vice-Captain), Andri Berenger (Wicket Keeper), Rumesh Buddika, Dhanushka Gunathilleke, Rushan Jaleel, Charith Jayampathi, Lahiru Jayarathne, Udara Jayasundera, Yasoda Lanka, Maduka Liyanapathiranage, Kasun Madushanka, Nadeera Rajaguru, Denuwan Rajakaruna, Bhanuka Rajapaksa.  Coach: Roger Wijesuriya

The Lankans started off their campaign on a high against a spirited Zimbabwe side. The African nation put in to bat first very modest 121 all out. The chief destroyer for the Lankans was none other than their skipper Chathura Peiris. Peiris had a brilliant tour down under and is continuing his form in the world cup as well. He bagged three wickets for just fifteen runs. First change bowler Charith Jayampathi made it all the more difficult for the Zimbabweans taking a splendid four wicket haul for 26 runs. It was too much for them to handle as the Lankans bought in Udara Jayasundara to make the final blows as he finished the day with an impressive 2 for 24.   

It was then the time for the Lions to show the minnows how it’s done, as openers Udara Jayasundara and Andrew Berenger gave the Lankans a solid start putting up 52 runs for the opening stand. Both the openers were back in the hut in the space of fifteen runs and the Lankans were in a spot of bother when Royal skipper and explosive batsman Banuka Rajapakse came in. He together with number four batsman Romesh Buddika who had an exceptional tour of Australia sealed the deal for the Lankans with an unbeaten partnership of 57 runs. Banuka Rajapakse was awarded the man of the match award for his radiant innings of 49 which he scored in just 43 balls hitting a astounding 10 hits to the boundary. 

The second match against Canada gave the Lankans an opportunity to show case his talents with the bat as they took first leash of the pith. They smashed the Canadians to all parts of the ground totaling 276 in their allotted over’s. Openers Udara Jayasundara and Andrew Berenger gave the Lankans their second fifty run opening partnership. The first to go was Berenger for a well compiled 23 runs. Jayasundara and Banuka Rajapakse put on a 46 for the first wicket before the former was out for a well compiled 43. Rajapakse was yet again in the runs, as he smashed 68 runs in 85 balls. Rumesh Buddika, Kithruwan Withanage and Dhanushka Gunathilake chipped in with a few twenties but was not able to convert it in to something big. Akshu Fernando then took charge with an unbeaten 43 runs to finish off on a high for the Lankans. 

Sri Lanka came in to bowl and made little work of the Canadian batsmen bundling them out for just 142 thereby winning the game convincingly. Skipper Chathura Peiris continued his brilliance bagging a fiffer for 25 runs. He was adjudged the man of the match. 

The heavyweight of the group New Zealand then gave the Lankans a run for their money in their final outing. Lankans taking first leash of the wicket were bundled out for a partly score of 195 with Dhanushka Gunathila making a fighting 69 for the Lankans. The top order showed signs of inconsistency with the top three back in the pavilion for just 55 runs on the board. In form batsman Banuka Rajapakse was dismissed for just 7 runs. After the damage was done at the top of the order it was then time for the repair work to begin. And this came in the form of Kithruwan Withanage and Romesh Buddika who put together 33 runs for the fourth wicket. Dhanushka coming in at number seven had very little support from his middle order. But he fought valiantly till the end to make a brilliant 69 off 71 balls with six boundaries and 2 sixes. 

The Kiwi’s in the turnaround made little work of the Lankan bowlers with opener harry Boam making an unbeaten 85 runs off 151 balls. He was well supported by Jimmy Neesham, Corey Anderson and Cachopa who contributed with 47, 26 and 27 respectively. The Lankan bowlers had little to talk about with only Kasun Madushanka, Charith Jayampathy and Udara Jayasundara bagging a wicket apiece. The Kiwi’s won the match convincingly by 7 wickets.