Sri Lanka retains U-19 Youth test dominance over England; wins series 1-0

Sri Lanka retained their dominance over England in the Under-19 Youth tests when they drew the second test of the two-match series at Derby.

Sri Lanka extended their first innings lead over England to 161 when they continued from their overnight score of 480-8 to 542 when Duvindu Ranatunga, the 17-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Mahanama College, Colombo showed his hand as a batsman.

Sri Lanka added a further 62 runs mainly due to Ranatunga scoring a maiden half-century at this level of cricket – 54 off 58 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes) that piled further frustration on the Englishmen, who were on the field for 157.1 overs.

In the remaining time left, England scored 249-5 in their second innings before the match ended in a draw giving Sri Lanka the series 1-0. They won the first test by three wickets at Chelmsford. Three of the wickets were captured by Sri Lanka’s U19 captain Raveen de Silva with his leg-spin. He also scored a compact 74 off 197 balls (7 fours, 1 six).

The victory replicated the 1-0 series win Sri Lanka scored on their last tour to England under Charith Asalanka in 2016.

Sri Lanka will start a three-match U-19 Youth ODI series against England from 5 September at Worcester. The second ODI is also set, for Worcester on 8 September and the third at Leicester on 10 September.

Scores: 

England (U-19) 381 and 249-5 (Harry Singh 25, Ben McKinney 74, Ross Whitfield 63, James Rew 34*, Tom Lawes 33*, Raveen de Silva 3/83) 

Sri Lanka (U-19) 542 (o/n 480-8) (Abisheak Liyanaarachchi 49, Shevon Daniel 155, Pawan Pathiraja 55, Ranuda Somarathne 37, Raveen de Silva 74, Vinuja Ranpul 65, Duvindu Ranatunga 54, Extras 47, Benjamin Cliff 2/94, Yousef Majid 3/104, Bertie Foreman 2/139)