England ride on Bell’s century to post 387 on first day

• First U-19 4-day Youth Test at Chelmsford

George Bell who plays for English county Lancashire second XI scored a century – 107 off 96 balls (16 fours) and put on 185 for the third wicket with Durham second XI player Ross Whitfield (86 off 106 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) to enable England score 387 on the opening day of the first four-day U-19 Youth test at Chelmsford.

England who won the toss and batted first were headed for a massive first innings total when they were at one stage 249-2, but Sri Lanka fought back through their 17-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler Duvindu Ranatunga who caused a middle order collapse – four wickets falling for 19 runs, on his way to capturing four wickets for 100 on his Under 19 debut.

England would have folded up for less than 300 if not for the strong resistance put up by number nine batter Sussex second XI’s off-spinner Bertie Foreman who scored an unbeaten 58 off 56 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes).

By stumps Sri Lanka lost Sadisha Rajapaksa for 11 to be 25-1.

Scores: 

England (U19) 387 (Harry Singh 27, Ben McKinney 33, Ross Whitfield 86, George Bell 107, Bertie Foreman 58*, Dulaj Samuditha 2/105, Wanuja Sahan 2/56, Duvindu Ranatunga 4/100)

Sri (U19) 25-1 at close.