Lanka lose to India but qualify for semis….

The Sri Lanka Under 19 team who had an easy passage in their previous match against Malaysia were tested to the hilt by defending champions India when they were beaten by six wickets with 61 deliveries to spare in their Youth Asia Cup Group ‘A’ match played at the Moratuwa Stadium yesterday.

In reply to Sri Lanka’s modest 207 in 48.5 overs the Indian counterparts reached the required target 208 for 4 in 39.5 overs.

The Indians in their run chase lost an early wicket of opener Rana for no score but runs came briskly as Prithive Shaw and Shubman Gill set the pace. With Abhishek Sharma joining the run fest adding 86 runs for the third wicket to take India closer to the target. They were 89 for 2 in 15 overs and 132 for 2 in the 24th over. Shubman Gill’s 78 was made off 78 deliveries and contained ten fours and a six while Abhishek Sharma faced 51 deliveries for his 33 with a solitary boundary and a six.

The Sri Lankan skipper in an desperate effort of unsettling the batsmen tried nine bowlers but was unable to unsettle the Indian batsmen who batted with a touch of professionalism.

Earlier Sri Lanka captain Kavindu Mendis won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Kelly and Chaturanga got off to a reasonable start putting on 58 runs for the first wicket in 8.5 overs. After Kelly was bowled by Abhishek Sharma for 27 Kavindu Mendis joined by Chaturanga took the score up to 81 when Mendis was out for 12 in the 14th over.

Besides the dismissals of the top three, the rest of the middle order crumbled, batsmen Boyagoda, Croospulle, Bandara and Sembukuttige were out cheaply and the side ushered in a crisis situation. Shiva Singh and Thakur bowled effectively to restrict the scoring till Jehan Daniel injected some life to gloomy proceedings and took the score to some extent of respectability. With more than half of the side out for 97 (6/97) Daniel in the company of Rashmika and Prasan took the score exceeding the 200-run mark.

Rasmika and Daniel added 35 valuable runs for the eighth wicket in nine overs and Daniel went on to compile a well struck 67 with five fours and a six facing 90 deliveries.

Shiva Singh (3 for 32), Y.S. Thakur (2 for 38) and Abhishek Sharma (2 for 32) were the main wicket takers for India.