England on top after bowling Sri Lanka out for 153

England took the upper hand on the opening day of the second 4-day under19 youth test when they dismissed Sri Lanka for 153 and then reached 73-1 by stumps at Cheltenham.

Naavya Sharma put the skids under Sri Lanka as England gained the upper hand on the opening day of the second Youth Men’s Test at Cheltenham.

On a day when 25 overs were lost to rain, Naavya Sharma, the Middlesex pace bowler served up an incisive display to return career-best figures of 5/44 and help dismiss Sri Lanka for 153 inside 46 overs in their first innings. Harry Moore impressed on debut, claiming 2/38, while spinner Charlie Barnard weighed in with 2/35 in a disciplined England bowling and fielding performance.

Sri Lanka were indebted to Gayana Weerasinghe who posted 77 from 111 balls in a defiant innings illuminated by eight fours and a six to ensure England did not have things entirely their own way.

Jaydn Denly afforded the reply early impetus, staging an enterprising knock of 57* from 59 balls (10 fours), as England reached stumps on 73-1, trailing by 80 with nine first-innings wickets in hand.

With bowler-friendly conditions prevailing, England Captain Hamza Shaikh won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the tourists to bat, a decision which was quickly vindicated once Sharma and Moore went to work with the new ball.

Bowling with express pace from the Chapel end, Sharma conjured a devastating burst of three wickets in 12 balls to rip the heart out of Sri Lanka’s top-order. Making the most of low cloud cover, the Isleworth-born teenager squared up Pulindu Perera, the left-handed opener sending a leading edge looping high to Rocky Flintoff at short extra as the breakthrough came in the third over.

He then removed Sharujan Shanmuganathan and Mahith Perera with successive deliveries in the seventh. Dinura Kalupahana survived the hat-trick ball, rapped on the pads by a delivery that was deemed to be going down the leg side. Having scored an outstanding hundred in the first unofficial Test at Wormsley earlier this month, Kalupahana made just 16 on this occasion, slapping a half volley to mid-wicket.

Weerasinghe continued to muster defiance aplenty, going to his 50 via 75 balls and dominating a stand of 42 for the ninth wicket with Manuja Chanthuka (11). He was eventually bowled by Barnard, who then accounted for Chanthuka to terminate the innings.

Scores: Sri Lanka (Under-19) 153 (Gayana Weerasinghe 77, Naavya Sharma 5/44, Harry Moore 2/38, Charlie Barnard 2/35)

England (Under-19) 73-2 at close (Jaydn Denly 57*)