19-year-old Ranuda Somaratne produced an incredible innings for Sri Lanka U19s, leading them to a remarkable victory against England U19s in the first Youth Test between the sides worked off at Chelmsford.
It was a special knock from the young Somaratne as he managed to pull of a victory for the Lankans when the chips were down. Players are usually judged by how they deal with pressure in the middle, whether they can rise to the challenge or fail to overcome.
Somaratne dealt with the high-pressure moments incredibly well and showed the cricketing world that he is someone special. He held his nerve to play one of the most extraordinary innings witnessed in Youth Test cricket.
Chasing 273 runs in 59 overs in red-ball cricket is no mean task, particularly on the last day of the game. At the beginning of the innings, Sri Lanka’s chances could have been generously described as minimal.
Sri Lanka lost 4 top order wickets for just 48 runs, making the run-chase even more difficult at that stage. Somaratne came in to bat at No. 5, joining Sri Lanka’s most successful batter of the tour so far, Asitha Wanninayake. However, Wanninayake’s stay at the crease was short this time around as he departed after scoring only 22 runs.
Somaratne started his innings slowly and used a defensive approach in the first phase of his knock. He and skipper Raveen de Silva built a decent 50-run partnership for the 5th wicket. Until that point, the Sri Lankan batters did not really look like they were thinking of the target but with the arrival of wicket-keeper batter Lahiru Dawatage, things turned around quickly.
Somaratne and Dawatage’s counter-attack gave the visitors hope as the duo added a vital 89 runs off 80 balls for the 6th wicket. But after the dismissal of Dawatage, who trapped in front for 49 runs, Somaratne was left with just the tail-enders for company. It then could have been a decision between trying to survive or going for the win.
With Sri Lanka needing 86 runs in 17 overs with only 4 wickets in hand, the nerves and pressure were being felt out in the middle. Somaratne knew he had to take the responsibility to carry his team over the line batting.
He continued to show positive intent in his stroke-play without being bothered by what was happening at the other end. No. 8 batter Vinuja Ranpul hung around for 8 overs adding 42 runs to the total with Somaratne and offering serious resistance to the England bowlers.
Though Somaratne kept losing partners at the other end, he continued to dictate terms against the bowlers. With number 9 batter Wanuja Sahan at the other end and 44 runs still needed for victory in just 9 overs, Somaratne changed gears.
The youngster remained calm in the eye of the storm and deservedly got to hit the winning runs in what will be a win long remembered by Sri Lankan fans.
