Vice-captain Sammu Ashan and fast-bowler Jehan Daniel helped Sri Lanka under 19s take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series beating Pakistan under 19s by 6 wickets in the 3rd youth ODI at SSC grounds on Wednesday.
Anandian Sammu Ashan continued his purple patch stroking an 85-ball unbeaten 75 while Josephian seamer Jehan Daniel bowled another sensational spell picking up 3 wickets for 22.
Earlier in the day, the hosts’ skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to field first. Sri Lanka made five changes to their team by handing youth ODI debuts to Thanuka Dabare (Lumbini), Geethal Malinga (St. Benedict’s), Sachitha Jayathilake(S.Thomas’), Lahiru Samarakoon (Dharmaraja) and Damitha Silva (Maliyadeva).
The 16-year old Josephian struck in his first over removing the Pakistani captain for zero.
After being 39 for 3, visitors came back into the match thanks to a solid 43 by Hasan Mohsin but his excellent innings came to an end when he became left-arm spinner Damitha Silva’s maiden scalp.
Spinners, Damith, Sammu & Charith bowled economically to tie down the run-flow. Daniel came onto his 2nd spell in the middle overs and struck immediately by dismissing Umair Masood and Aun Abbas in consecutive overs.
Sammu bowled all his 10 overs for just 25 runs picking up 1 wicket while Damitha gave away 45 runs for solitary wicket during his full quota of 10 overs.
The Pakistani tail rallied around middle-order batsman, Awais Iqbal to take their team total to a below-par 173. Iqbal made an unbeaten 42 off 53 deliveries. Skipper Charith Asalanka cleaned up the tail taking 3 wickets in the death overs.
Chasing 174 runs to win, new opening combination of Thanuka Dabare (18) and Kavin Bandara (16) made a stand of 38 but both left-handers were dismissed within 4 balls.
Skipper Asalanka made a rare failure as Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother at 43 for 3. Vice-captain Sammu and talented Avishka Fernando built a solid 87-run stand for the 4th wicket which brought the chase back on track. Sebastanite, Fernando was unfortunately dismissed hit-wicket for 41 in the 30th over.
Sammu and debutant, Sachitha Jayathilake batted sensibly in their unbroken 47-run stand as Sri Lanka took a comfortable 2-0 lead in the series. Both Sammu & Jehan were the chief performers when the islanders won the first game in Hambanthota while the second game ended without a result.
Pakistan U19 – 173 all out in 49.4 overs: Hasan Mohsin 43, Awais Iqbal 42*, Umair Masood 20, Jehan Daniel 3/22, Charith Asalanka 3/17.
Sri Lanka U19 – 177/4 in 40.3 overs: Sammu Ashan 75*, Avishka Fernando 41, Sachitha Jayathilake 22, Hasan Mohsin 2/21.
