Sri Lanka Emerging XI dismantled the Malaysian team by a whopping 205 runs in their Emerging Teams Asia Cup group game which was worked out today at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Perera won the toss and opted to bat first on a good batting surface. The Lankan openers, Ron Chandragupta and Sadeera Samarawickrama started the innings in a blistering fashion as they put up 75 runs for the opening stand.
Dashing left-hander Shehan Jayasuriya and opener Ron Chandragupta were dismissed soon after for 13 and 22 respectively.
In-form Charith Asalanka joined opener Sadeera Samarawickrama and the duo put on a mammoth 145 for the 3rd wicket as the latter stroked a magnificent century at a run a ball that included 12 boundaries.
Asalanka continued his purple patch as he managed 78 runs, inclusive of nine boundaries. Skipper Angelo Perera walked in next to chip in with a handy cameo of 31 as the late middle order saw a mini collapse. Consequently, Sri Lanka’s innings folded at 311/9 in their allocated quota of overs.
Derek Duraisingham and Virandeep Singh were the pick of the bowlers as they both managed to pick three wickets apiece. Abdul Rashid managed to bag two scalps for 62 to round off the bowling performance for Malaysia.
In pursuit of a mammoth 312, Malaysia lost their opener Sivanantha Krishnan for a duck in the opening over as right-arm seamer Asitha Fernando gave the Islanders a perfect start.
Malaysia’s batting was never in the hunt as their wickets fell at regular intervals as they eventually folded for a hapless 106 in 27.3 overs.
Sri Lanka discard, left-arm spinner Amila Aponso was the chief destroyer from the Lankan bowling department with a fruitful five-wicket haul.
Right-arm leggie Wanindu Hasaranga managed to pick up three valuable wickets to restrict the Malaysian batting line up as Sri Lankan Emerging XI to complete a convincing 205 run win.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka Emerging XI – 311/9 in 50 overs – Sadeera Samarawickrama 121, Charith Asalanka 76, Angelo Perera 32, Ron Chandraguptha 22, Derek Duraisingham 3/47, Virandeep Singh 3/56, Abdul Rashid 2/65.
Malaysia – 106 all out in 27.3 overs – Aminuddin Ramly 29, Ahmed Faiz 22, Amila Aponso 5/31, Wanidu Hasaranga 3/26.
At the completion of the group stage matches, Sri Lanka Emerging XI managed to head Group A due to their higher net run-rate and will meet Bangladesh Emerging XI in the first semi-final scheduled on 1st April in Chittagong.
Points Table
GROUP A
| TEAMS | MAT | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | PTS | NET RR |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +1.367 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.956 |
| India | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +0.836 |
| Malaysia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.201 |
GROUP B
| TEAMS | MAT | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | PTS | NET RR |
| Pakistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | +1.838 |
| Bangladesh | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | +1.756 |
| Nepal | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.528 |
| Hong Kong | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.304 |
