Sri Lanka Under 19 cricketers beat their English counterparts to win the two-Test Youth series 1-0 and followed it up by whitewashing them in the three-match Youth ODI series 3-0.

“I am very happy to say that a few players in the Under-19 squad are knocking the doors on the national side,” said Jayasuriya, who has been keeping a close eye on the development of junior cricket even during his previous tenure as the national selector.

Jayasuriya said under SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala’s management, SLC has put a great effort in developing junior cricket with the junior selectors headed by Ranjith Madurasinghe, who has done an excellent job.

The Sri Lanka Under-19 team, led by Charith Asalanka, was warmly welcomed at the SLC headquarters following their historic tour of England.

“It’s a historic moment for SLC as the side won the both Test and One Day series. We had never won both series in England at junior level,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. Team manager Mahinda Halangoda said that it was a tough series, but added, “We had fantastic weather conditions in England and there were at least five batsmen ready to go to the next level which includes Avishka Fernando, who hit two back to back hundreds in the ODIs and skipper Charith Asalanka.”

“Our fielding was exceptional and it came for high praise from England umpire Nick Cook,” said Halangoda. “He said we are a brilliant fielding unit, better than either Sri Lanka A or the current national team.” Cook, is a former England cricketer turned first-class umpire.

“I have no words to say, I am really happy that our players have done a great job,” said SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala under whose leadership Sri Lanka cricket has reaped tremendous success during the year.

“We are proud as a country as this happened while the national side whitewashed the No. 1 Test team, Australia,” the SLC president said. “Under the guidance of Nelson Mendis, Mahinda Halalgoda and coach Roy Dias, our players have maintained good discipline in the UK, it’s an admirable moment,” said Sumathipala. SLC presented one million rupees to the victorious Under 19 cricketers. The cheque was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka under 19 captain Charith Asalanka by president Sumathipala.

In an excellent all-round performance, Sri Lanka dismissed the strong England batting for 184 and then surpassed the modest target in the 36thover.

Sri Lanka will take on India in the first semi-final in Mirpur on Tuesday. The second semi-final on Thursday will feature host Bangladesh against the winner of Monday’s Pakistan-West Indies match.
Hasaranga de Silva strangled England’s middle-order with his leg spin claiming three wickets.

This is only the third time Sri Lanka has reached the semi-final of this tournament since its inception in 1988. In the home event in 2000, it reached the final where it lost to Mohammad Kaif’s India, while in 2010 in New Zealand, Sri Lanka reached the last four and finished in fourth position.

England failed to match its earlier run-feast in Group C where it raked up totals of 371 for three against Fiji, 282 for seven against the West Indies and 288 for four against Zimbabwe.

Callum Taylor top-scored with 42 after England won the toss and elected to bat, but the rest of the batting fell apart against the sustained pressure applied by the Sri Lanka bowlers. Leg-spinner Hasaranga de Silva finished with three wickets for 34 runs after seamer Asitha Fernando had wrecked the start with two dismissals.
Avishka Fernando receiving the Player of the Match award from BCB director Nazmul Karim Tinku.

Sri Lanka made a breezy start to its reply, racing to 51 for no loss in eight overs before the lunch break, with Fernando contributing 35 of those runs. Kaveen Bandara helped Fernando put on 76 for the first wicket by the 14thover when he was run out for 22.

Fernando hit 11 fours and a six to steer Sri Lanka towards an emphatic win before he was caught behind off Saqib Mahmood when just 14 runs were needed for victory in 17 overs.

Skipper Charith Asalanka, who put on 69 for the third wicket with Fernando, fell for 34 soon after, but Sri Lanka cruised home easily.

Asalanka said he was delighted to see his team bounce back after losing to Pakistan in the last league match.

“We had not batted well against Pakistan, so it was important to settle down and build big scores, which is what Avishka was able to do today,” he said. “But the bowlers won us the game today. We bowled well and fielded very well too. But the plus point is that we have improved our batting.”

Asalanka said Sri Lanka will test India with spin in the semi-final.

“We know India players are good facing spin, but spin is our strength and we will stick to that,” he said. “We are confident of doing well in the semi-final.” England captain Brad Taylor said he was disappointed to lose after his team did so well in the league stage.

“I genuinely believe we had an off-day,” said Taylor. “You have days when it does not come off. I think Sri Lanka played very well, but on another day, we would back ourselves.

“We expected Sri Lanka to rely on spin, but the batsmen did not stay long enough to build partnerships. We had come here to win the tournament, so obviously we are very disappointed.”

In the Plate Championship play-off in Cox’s Bazar, Ireland defeated Canada by six wickets to ensure it does not finish amongst the bottom two in the 16-nation tournament.

Sri Lanka batting first, were all out for 239 runs in 49.4 overs.

The Pakistani Under 19 team were 92 for 4 in 49.4 overs when rain stopped play.
Sri Lanka Under 19 : 239 in 49.4 overs (Charith Asalanka 65, Sammu Ashan 103, Sameen Gul 2/31, Arfan Liaquat 2/40)
Pakistan Under 19 : 92/4 in 29.3 overs (Kamran Afzal 15, Jehan Daniel 5-2-08-2).

Play resumed at 9.45 last morning and Sri Lanka continuing from their overnight score of 10/0 lost opener Kavin Bandara for 16 half hour into the game. Salinda Ushan who opened the innings with Kavin was unfortunately caught and bowled by Shadab Khan for 49. Sri Lanka went into lunch at 128/2.

In the after lunch session, Avishka Fernando was caught by Aon Abbas off the bowling of Arfan Liaqat for 63 scored off 105 balls with four boundaries. Shammu Ashan was unbeaten on 54 and Wasnidu Hasaranga unbeaten on 25 when the decleration was made with the total on 211/3 at tea which was taken early, giving the Pakistan youth team a victory target of 350 runs to be scored in a minimum of forty one overs left of the game.

Zeeshan Malik and Abdulla Shafiq opening the Pakistan team’s second innings shared an 87 run first wicket stand before Malik was caught by Charith Asalanka off the bowling of Sammu Ashan for 55 scored off 58 balls with five boundaries and three sixes.

The match was called off at the fall of the wicket of Kamran Afzal 21. Of the eight bowlers used only Sammu Ashan, Thilan Nimesh and Nishan Pieris captured a wicket each..

Charith Asalanka (31887) of Richmond College, Galle took over a slender lead of 394 votes over last week’s winner Lakshina Rodrigo (31493) of St.Peter’s as the tussle for the first place in the Platinum segment for division one schools is becoming anyone’s guess at the end of 15th week counting in the Sunday Observer/ Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Of The year Contest 2015.

Asalanka and Rodrigo have been performing well for their schools this season and helped them win many matches. Raveen Sayer of Trinity at third place is also a prolific performer this season. Sayer has been in the fray on previous occasions in the contest.

In the Gold category for division two schools Randev Pathirana of Royal College, Colombo has maintained his top spot by polling 20026 votes to Ramindu Nikeshala (15,586) of Devapathiraja College, Ratgama.