Sri Lanka U19s led by Charith Asalanka’s all-round performances crushed England U19s by 52 runs in their Tri-Nation match played at R. Premadasa International Stadium on Monday.

Skipper Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot & humid day. Opener Avishka Fernando was the first to be dismissed when he was stuck right-in-front of the stumps by fast-bowler Ben Green for 14 in the 6th over.   

Left-handed Isipathanian opener Salinda Ushan added 39 runs with skipper Asalanka but the former fell for 19 to the bowling of Brad Taylor when the team score was 59. Richmondite Asalanka and Anandian Sammu Ashan batted excellently to add 51 runs for the 3rd wicket before the skipper was dismissed for 48 off 78 balls (4 fours).

Ashan witnessed a major batting slip by his middle-order batsmen, Wanindu Hasaranga (9), Kamindu Mendis (1) and Malinga Amarasinghe (7) as Brad Taylor completely shifted the tide towards the Englishmen. Vice-captain Ashan stroked 2 fours during his 58-ball 38.

Useful contributions from Damith Silva (17) and Vishad Randika (18) ensured a respectable score of 191 for the hosts’ but they failed to bat out their allotted 50 overs. The tall off-spinner, Brad Taylor picked up 4 scalps for 34 runs.

Chasing 192 runs to win, England lost their opener Dan Lawrence for just 8 in the 4th over as the seam bowling duo Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara bowled few excellent overs up front. Haseeb Hameed and Jack Burnham laid a solid foundation for the chase by constructing a 47-run stand for the 2nd wicket but Richmondite spinner Kamindu Mendis broke the ominous-looking stand when Burnham’s run-a-ball 32 ended in the 12th over.

Spinners, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Damith Silva and Sammu Ashan tightened the screws brilliantly on a wearing surface. Damith clean bowled CJ Taylor and Ben Green on consecutive overs while George Bartlett was stumped off Asalanka’s bowling.

After being 64 for 1, the young England side was restricted to 94 for 7 by the excellent fielding and spin bowling of the junior Lankan lions.

Ryan Davies and skipper Brad Taylor tried to bring the Englishmen back into the game with a fighting 43-run stand for the 8th wicket but the Lankans left no stone unturned in dismissing the visitors for 139 in the 39th over.

Sri Lanka U19 – 191 all out in 49.1 overs: Charith Asalanka 48, Sammu Ashan 38, Brad Taylor 4/34, Mason Crane 2/38, Ben Green 2/20.

England U19 – 139 all out in 38.3 overs: Jack Burnham 32, Haseeb Hammed 20, Ryan Davies 28, Damith Silva 2/38, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/22, Kamindu Mendis 1/15, Charith Asalanka 1/21.

Sri Lanka U19s will next take on India U19 on 17th December at R. Premadasa International Stadium.