Kalupahana scores century for Sri Lanka in first Under-19 test

Sri Lanka Captain Dinura Kalupahana drives on his way to a century against England in the first Under-19 Youth test at Wormsley.  

Dinura Kalupahana, the Sri Lanka Under-19 skipper scored a fighting century to guide his team to a first innings total of 324 when play got underway on the third day of the first 4-day Youth test against England Under19 at Wormsley yesterday.

After a complete washout on the second day, play resumed with Sri Lanka on 177-5. Kalupahana unbeaten on 70 carried his score to 104 off 144 balls (13 fours, 1 six). With his overnight partner Diniru Abeywickramasingha (43 off 60 balls, 7 fours), Kalupahana added 99 for the sixth wicket after Sri Lanka were at one stage 37-4.

Further resistance followed from Nathan Caldera (55 off 114 balls, 5 fours) and Vihas Thewmika (19) who put on 45 for the eighth wicket.

Caldera continued to defy the England bowlers and took Sri Lanka past the 300-run mark before being dismissed last by Alex French who was the home team’s most successful bowler with four wickets. England conceded 41 extras which included 12 no-balls.

Scores: Sri Lanka (Under-19) 324 (o/n 177-5) (Mahith Perera 22, Dinura Kalupahana 104, Diniru Abeywickramasingha 43, Nathan Caldera 55, Naavya Sharma 2/59, Alex French 4/81, Alex Green 2/36) v England (Under-19)