D.S Senanayake College batting pair of Akeel Inham and Kavin Bandara produced a match-winning 147-run partnership for the 2nd wicket as Sri Lanka under 19s comprehensively got the better of Australia under 19s by 8 wickets in the 6th and final youth ODI played at SSC grounds and clinched the series 3-1.
The visiting Captain Patrick McKenna won the toss of coin and elected to bat first and put some runs on the board in a must-win game to square the series. Australia lost 3 early wickets including their reliable opening pair of Mattew Renshaw and Liam Banthorpe inside the mandatory power play as the Lankans ran out two baby Kangaroos with sharp fielding as the visitors went into a hole as they were restricted to 29/3 by the spirited hosts.
Right arm leg-spinner Aravinda Akurugoda struck gold from his first over as the dangerous Sam Harper was caught behind for 20 runs as they lost their 4th wicket for 44 runs. Skipper Patrick and Kyle Scrimegour provided some resistance as they scored 51 runs for the 5th wicket in 65 balls before Anandian off-spinner Sammu Ashan got the prized wicket of Patrick McKenna for 37.
Left-arm spinner Damitha Silva sent shock waves into the Australian camp in the 33rd over of the match as he dismissed well-set Kyle Scrimegour and Tom Healy within 3 balls as the hosts were reeling at 116 for 7.
Australian lower-order provided valuable scores during the whole series and this time around also they succeeded as Izaac Boylan and Jonte Pattison formed a vital 67-run stand for the 8th but Sammu Ashan broke the partnership with his canny off-spin. Boylan made 37 runs in just 39 balls while Pattison top-scored with a 52-ball knock of 40 which comprised only 2 fours.
Sri Lanka bowled excellently throughout the Aussie innings which finally came to an end when the score was 203. Off-spinner Sammu Ashan was the pick of the bowlers capturing 3 wickets for 36 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
Chasing 204 runs to win the game and the series, Debutant opener from S. Thomas’ College, Rashmika Opatha gave the hosts a blazing start in the first five overs but he perished attempting a sweep and was trapped LBW by off-spinner Sam Grimwade.
At 34/1, the left-handed opener Kaveen Bandara was joined by his school-mate Akeel Inham and the two youngsters guided the Lankan team to victory as they maneuvered the ball perfectly to score singles at will and stroked the usual boundary as an entertaining partnership was too much for the visitors. Kaveen fell 14 runs short of a well-deserved century and his knock of 86 consist of 10 fours.
Akeel played the aggressive role as he scored his 83 runs in just 89 deliveries and scored 11 fours and a six and he remained unbeaten till the end scoring the winning runs from a boundary itself as Sri Lanka got past the Aussie total with 71 balls to spare. Sam Grimwade picked up both the wickets.
Chief Scores:
Australia U19 – 203 all out in 49.3 overs: Jonte Pattison 40, Patrick McKenna 37, Izaac Boylan 37, Kyle Scrimegour 26, Sammu Ashan 3/36, Damitha Silva 2/31.
Sri Lanka U19 – 206/2 in 38.1 overs: Kaveen Bandara 86, Akeel Inham 83*, Sam Grimwade 2/53.
