Methuka and Sandaru shine as Under-17s claim victory
ThePapareNews article
Sri Lanka's Under-17 side secured a 99-run win in the first one-day game of the five-match ODI series against Pakistan Under-17.
Invited to bat first by the Pakistan captain, who won the toss at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka posted 239 for 6, while Pakistan, in reply, were restricted to just 140 all out.
Sri Lanka Under-17 team
Stevon Peiris (captain and wicket-keeper), Methuka Gunaratne, Yenula Hewawitharana, Reshon Solomons, Sandaru Malshan, Thisanga Perera, Sashith Bandara, Adeesha Lakshan, Mahiru Kodithuwakku, Chenuka Dodangoda and Tharuka Samanjith.
Pakistan Under-17 team
Azan Ahmed (captain), Sudais Ahmed, Daud Tauqeer Rana, Mohammad Yousaf, Sher Wali Khan, Hamid Raza, Arsalan Hassan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Saim, Mohammad Ihsaan, Abdullah Ahmed Butt and Fahad Iqbal.
Batting first, Sri Lanka's openers Methuka Gunaratne and Yenula Hewawitharana gave their side a solid start, putting on 88 runs off 112 balls for the first wicket.
The stand was broken when Yenula Hewawitharana was run out, having faced 57 balls for 36 runs with 5 fours.
The next wicket brought another 67 runs to the Sri Lankan innings, with Methuka Gunaratne and Reshon Solomons leading the way.
Methuka Gunaratne reached the first half-century of the series off the 70th ball he faced, and when he fell as the second wicket of the innings he had made 77 off 92 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
Reshon Solomons was dismissed as the third wicket, having scored 42 off 59 balls with 2 fours. By the time he fell he had added 25 runs for the third wicket with Sandaru Malshan, and Sri Lanka's innings stood at 180.
After that only 12 runs were added for the next two wickets, with Sandaru Malshan dismissed for 20 off 33 balls and Thisanga Perera for 2 off 9 balls.
Captain Stevon Peiris managed only 10 runs, taking 21 balls over them.
At the close of the Sri Lankan innings Sashith Bandara was unbeaten on 21 off 24 balls with 2 fours, and Adeesha Lakshan unbeaten on 12 off 7 balls with 2 fours.
Opening fast bowler Mohammad Ihsaan recorded the best bowling figures of the innings with 3 wickets for 43 runs. In addition, Fahad Iqbal picked up two wickets.
Sri Lanka's bowlers removed the first 5 Pakistan wickets for just 48 runs, but Hamid Raza and Arsalan Hassan then added 38 runs off 65 balls for the next wicket to give the Pakistan innings a more respectable look.
That partnership ended when Arsalan Hassan was dismissed for 17 off 32 balls, including a four and a six.
Hamid Raza was run out as the seventh wicket of the innings, having made 28 off 57 balls with a six.
Pakistan's top scorer was lower-order batter Mohammad Saim, who made 30 off 47 balls with 3 fours and a six.
In addition, opening batter Daud Tauqeer Rana scored 26 off 26 balls with a six and 3 fours.
Pakistan were bowled out with 66 balls still remaining, Sandaru Malshan returning the best figures of the innings with 3 wickets for 16 runs. Thisanga Perera took 2 for 19, while Sashith Bandara, Mahiru Kodithuwakku and Tharuka Samanjith claimed a wicket each.
Match scorecard in brief
Sri Lanka Under-17 – 239 for 6 (50.0) Methuka Gunaratne 77, Yenula Hewawitharana 36, Reshon Solomons 42, Sandaru Malshan 20, Sashith Bandara 21 not out, Mohammad Ihsaan 3/43, Fahad Iqbal 2/49
Pakistan Under-17 – 140 all out (39.0) Daud Tauqeer Rana 26, Hamid Raza 28, Mohammad Saim 30, Sandaru Malshan 3/16, Thisanga Perera 19/2
Sri Lanka Under-17 won by 99 runs.
- Man of the Match – Methuka Gunaratne (Sri Lanka)
The second one-day match between the two sides is scheduled to be played in Multan on the 17th of this month.
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Based on ThePapare reporting