Ranuda Somarathne stars in Sri Lanka’s stunning run chase

 Ranuda Somarathne hit a brilliant unbeaten century to see Sri Lanka U-19 home with 11 balls to spare

• Defeat England by three wickets to go one-up in U-19 Youth series

Sri Lanka Under-19s pulled off a stunning chase after Ranuda Somarathne’s unbeaten hundred downed England by three wickets in the first 4-day Under-19 Youth test at Chelmsford.

Wanuja Sahan had a splendid game contributing with both bat and ball

In two sessions, 273 was set to win, but the tourists were reduced to 98 for 5, as Tom Aspinwall produced a relentless post-lunch spell to remove three of the opposing sides’ top four. The Lancashire right-arm medium pacer was accurate, miserly, and stepped up at a crucial time for his team.

When Hampshire’s Dominic Kelly induced a loose shot from first-innings centurion Asitha Wanninayake that ended up in the grateful hands of captain Ben McKinney, England had Sri Lanka four down and facing defeat.

Ben McKinney made it five as Raveen de Silva was trapped lbw, but a sixth-wicket partnership worth 89 in 80 balls between Somarathne and Lahiru Dawatage restored hope. Dominic Kelly broke the stand, but Somarathne continued on his merry way, reaching three figures and then helped to secure victory with 11 balls to spare, helped in no small part by an unbeaten 23 from Wanuja Sahan.

It puts Sri Lanka 1-0 up heading into the second and final Test in Derby starting on Sunday, 28 August, for which England is likely to recall members of their Under-19 World Cup squad.

The morning session had gone well for Sri Lanka, having turned England’s overnight 199 for 3 into 292 all out and capitalised on the home side’s desire for quick runs. Wanuja Sahan, a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, shone for them with figures of 4 for 89 off 27 overs. 

The dismissal of George Bell early in the morning session for 29 by Sahan was instrumental and led to a period when England was generous in gifting their wickets. Duvindu Ranatunga picked up 3 for 34 in a disciplined and accurate bowling performance by the Sri Lankans.

However, Sri Lanka’s joy was short-lived as Aspinwall wreaked havoc in the early stages of the chase. As the evening session commenced, England were six wickets from victory, an admirable effort given their position after two days in Chelmsford.

Captain McKinney got de Silva leg-before for 22, and his ecstatic celebration, running towards the slip cordon, showed he knew the potential importance of that wicket. Despite Aspinwall’s return to the attack as England sensed victory, they had not anticipated the resistance and skill of Somarathne. He showed the top order how to bat on a good surface and as the sun shone over the ground, an air of tension enveloped it.  Dawatage was an able partner to Somarathne, but he was denied his half-century when Kelly pinned him to reignite England’s chances of victory.

Sahan came to the crease, and though the breakthrough gave England a new lease of life, overs ticking by with no further wickets motivated Sri Lanka.

They batted with energy in the final session, especially Somarathne, who earlier on in the day, had soaked up the pressure and played a well-paced inning. He ended unbeaten on 120, hitting the winning runs thanks to a boundary off the first ball of the penultimate over from Ben Cliff.

Scores: 

England (U-19) 387 and 292 (o/n 199-3) (Ben McKinney 56, Ross Whitfield 110, George Bell 29, Matthew Hurst 39, Wanuja Sahan 4/89, Duvindu Ranatunga 3/34, Raveen de Silva 2/70)

Sri Lanka (U-19) 407 and 276-7 (Asitha Wanninayake 22, Ranuda Somarathne 120*, Raveen de Silva 22, Lahiru Dawatage 49, Wanuja Sahan 23*, Thomas Aspinwall 4/67, Dominic Kelly 2/52)