Shanmuganathan leads Sri Lanka’s charge in the opening game against Nepal

ACC Under-19s Asia Cup 2024

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Sharujan Shanmuganathan
Photo by Satish Kumar / CREIMAS for Asian Cricket Council

Sri Lanka U19s registered a comprehensive win against Nepal in their opening game in the ongoing ACC Under-19s Asia Cup 2024 tournament by 55 runs today (29th November) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

Nepal won the toss and elected to bowl first in conditions which was suggested wouldn’t be very well suited for batting as the day progressed. However, Sri Lanka lost their experienced opening batter Pulindu Perera in the third over. With the fall of the priced scalp in the opening overs Sri Lanka batters didn’t look in a hurry.

Wicket-keeper batter Sharujan Shanmuganathana anchored the inning with a patient 62 off 92 deliveries. Lakvin Abeysinghe on the other end was very proactive with the bat scoring a run-a-ball half-century. Even though Abeysinghe’s innings had only three boundaries his strike rotation him to take Sri Lanka’s total past 230. Kavija Gamage added the final touches to the innings as he ended the innings with an unbeaten 37 runs off 44 deliveries.

In reply, the Nepalese looked very composed with their approach towards the run-chase and weren’t taking on the bowling. But they were making steady progress knocking the ball around. Nepal was looking untroubled at the 30-over mark with their opening batter Mayan Yadav unbeaten at the crease with a half-century back to his name.

As the saying goes “All good things must come to an end” Nepal lost Mayan Yadav courtesy of Praveen Maneesha’s leg spin. Maneesha from their onwards took matters into his hands picking up two more wickets in quick succession. Maneesha ended with figures of 3 for 30 in his 9 overs.

In the end, Sri Lanka bowled out the Nepal side for 178 runs, securing a 55-run victory. Sri Lanka U19s will face Afghanistan U19s this Sunday the 1st of December at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

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