The first youth Test between Sri Lanka U19 and Bangladesh U19 ended in a stalemate due to rain in Dambulla on Friday.
Only two innings and 180 overs were possible on all three days where the rain interrupted more than half of the playing hours which failed to acquire the best out of the talented youngsters.
The Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss of coin and elected to bat on a new surface. The opening partnership successfully batted till the 14th over until Kavin Bandara was dismissed for 22. Skipper Asalanka and opening bat Salinda Ushan added 41 for the second wicket and the visitors grabbed both Asalanka and his vice-captain Avishka Fernando inside three balls as the hosts struggled for runs.
Salinda Ushan from Isipathana College batted superbly to put up a scintillating rearguard performance to help Sri Lanka post a below par first innings score of 216. Left-handed Salinda faced 254 deliveries for his patient 77 while slight cameos from Malinga Amarasinghe (26), Ravindu Tillakarathne (25) and Asitha Fernando (23) helped the cause for the hosts.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nihaduzzaman was the chief destroyer claiming 5 wickets for 55 runs while skipper Mehedy Hasan captured 3 scalps.
Bangladesh in their reply started off positively with a fluent half-ton from the bat of their opening batsman Shadman Islam. He struck 11 fours in his knock of 56. The best knock for the visitors came through number 4 batsman Joyraz Sheik as the stylish right-hander batted until the last ball of the match to complete a memorable century. The 4th wicket stand of 66 between Joyraz and Mehedy Hasan steered the Bangladesh innings.
Joyraz took 167 balls for his unbeaten 100 which included 11 fours. Mehedy Hassan’s 43-ball 41 had elegant 8 boundaries. Bangladesh juniors ended the match on 289 for 8 in 83 overs. St. Peter’s College, Negombo off-spinner Nimantha Peiris bowled superbly for his 4 scalps while left-arm chinamen spinner Ravindu Tillakarathne took 2 wickets.
The second and final youth Test will be played on 2nd to 4th of February in Pallekelle.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka U19 – 216 all out in 97.4 overs: Salinda Ushan 77, Malinga Amarasinghe 26, Ravindu Tillakaratne 25, Mohammed Nihaduzzaman 5/55, Mehedy Hasan 3/63.
Bangladesh U19 – 289/8 in 75 overs: Joyraz Sheik 100*, Shadman Islam 56, Mehedy Hasan 41, Nishan Peiris 4/81, Ravindu Tillakaratne 2/58.
