Jordan Johnson’s magnificent 157* couldn’t prevent a defeat for West Indies U19s in the second Youth Test against Sri Lanka as the hosts won by 7 wickets and claimed the series victory 1-0 at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla.
Sri Lanka were only 2 wickets away from cleaning up the visitors second innings at the beginnings of the day and did so in dramatic way with a couple of run outs. Vihas Thewmika who led the Lankan attack yet again with a 3-wicket haul, finished with 8/106 in the match and 14 wickets in the series at 13.14. Apart from him, Kaveesha Piyumal and Malsha Tharupathi each starred with two wickets as well.
Jordan Johnson, the best batter for the Windies on this tour, remained unbeaten with another scintillating knock of 157 in just 163 balls, which included 20 fours and a six. The left handed batter amassed 358 runs in three innings in this Youth Test series, averaging 179.00 with two big hundreds and he also smashed a century in the unofficial ODI series.
Chasing 79 to win, the hosts lost 3 quick wickets very close to each other after Pulindu Perera and Sineth Jayawardene commenced the innings. Skipper Jayawardene who failed to contribute with the bat throughout this tour, went all guns blazing early in the innings, blasting a 14-ball 30 with a flurry of boundaries.
At 39/3, Rusanda Gamage and Ravishan Nethsara joined forces, and the duo took Sri Lanka U19s home, after putting on an unfinished 42-run stand for the 4th wicket. The rain prevented a result in the first game and Sri Lanka U19s took the series 1-0.
