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Freddie McCann’s fine knock of 174 helped England Under19 level series
Sri Lanka Under19 Captain Dinura Kalupahana celebrates taking fifth wicket
In a high-scoring game, Sri Lanka lost the second Youth ODI to England by 30 runs at Hove on Monday.
The aggregate for the match was 690 runs.
Freddie McCann’s superb 174 from 139 balls catapulted England Under19 to a 30-run victory which levelled the three-match Youth ODI series against Sri Lanka Under19. The Nottinghamshire left-hander was the star of a high-scoring contest as the hosts piled up 360-7.
Sri Lanka made a positive start to the chase – they were 53 runs ahead of England’s score at the halfway stage – but McCann again played a key role taking a diving outfield catch to remove Gayana Weerasinghe after he had added 110 in 14 overs with Pulindu Perera.
England’s disciplined attack then claimed wickets at regular intervals with skipper Luc Benkenstein returning 4/77 while Taz Ali’s relatively miserly 2/41 from 10 overs proved crucial.
It was all about McCann’s contribution with the bat. The 19-year-old crunched 22 fours and three sixes, while Noah Thain passed 50 for the second successive game (66 off 76 balls, 8 fours, 1 six). The England innings was based around a partnership of 127 in 24 overs between McCann and Thain in which the Sri Lankan fielders were driven to distraction – quite literally. In the course of the partnership, with the fielders becoming increasingly vociferous, the umpires Jack Shantry and Nigel Llong spoke with Captain Dinura Kalupahana, and told him that they had awarded England five penalty runs for distracting behaviour.
There were cameos from Charlie Allison (46 off 43) and Dom Kelly, who hit four fours and two sixes in an 11-ball 32* (4 fours, 2 sixes). Kalupahana was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler with 5/81 from his 10 overs.
Sri Lanka made a positive start to their innings as Weerasinghe (57 off 42 balls, 10 fours) and Perera (64 off 59 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) got them ahead of the rate as they searched for a series-clinching win. Farhan Ahmed broke the stand thanks to McCann’s outfield catch, and four overs later, Perera was dismissed with an lbw to Ali. Sri Lanka were unable to find another batsman capable of dominating the England bowlers as they were bowled out for 330 in 49.2 overs. Sri Lanka’s innings was also boosted by 28 wides.
The third and final Youth ODI will be played at the same venue today.
Scores:
England (Under19) 360-7 (50) (Freddie McCann 174, Noah Thain 66, Charlie Allison 46, Dominic Kelly 32*, Duminda Sewmina 2/91, Dinura Kalupahana 5/81)
Sri Lanka (Under 19) 330 (49.2) (Pulindu Perera 64, Gayana Weerasinghe 57, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 25, Dinura Abeywickramasingha 22, Praveen Maneesha 38, Hivin Kenula 30, Vihas Thewmika 24*, Dominic Kelly 2/52, Tazeem Ali 2/41, Luc Benkenstein 4/77)
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