Winning start for Sri Lanka Under-17 side
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Touring Pakistan, the Sri Lanka Under-17 cricket team recorded an impressive 99-run win in the first match of the five-match one-day series between the two countries. Having set a target of 239 runs on the back of contributions from the top-order batters, the Sri Lankans then restricted Pakistan's innings to 140 runs.
Top-order batter Methuka Gunaratne's 77 and Sandaru Malshan's bowling spell of 3 wickets for 16 runs were the standout performances in Sri Lanka's victory. Methuka Gunaratne was also named Player of the Match.
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, the Pakistan captain won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first. Accepting the invitation, Sri Lanka's opening batters Methuka Gunaratne and Yenula Hewawitharana built an 88-run first-wicket partnership off 112 balls.
That stand was broken when Yenula, who had made 36 runs off 57 balls with 5 fours, was run out. Reshon Solomons then joined Methuka and added a further 67 runs for the second wicket, strengthening the Sri Lankan innings.
Methuka, who registered the first half-century of the series, compiled 77 runs off 92 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. After his dismissal, Reshon Solomons too was dismissed having made 42 runs off 59 balls with 2 fours. He had also put together a 25-run third-wicket partnership with Sandaru Malshan.
However, after that a few Sri Lankan wickets fell in quick succession. Sandaru was dismissed for 20 and Thisanga Perera for 2, while captain Stevaughn Peiris could manage only 10 runs. In the closing overs, Sashith Bandara's unbeaten 21 and Adeesha Lakshan's unbeaten 12 lifted the Sri Lankan innings to 239 for 6.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Ihsan took 3 wickets for 43 runs while Fahad Iqbal claimed 2 for 49.
Chasing a target of 240 runs, the Pakistan side came under heavy pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers. Having taken the first 5 wickets within 48 runs, the Sri Lankans seized control of the match.
Hameed Raza and Arsalan Hassan came together to add 38 runs off 65 balls for the sixth wicket, trying to bring some stability to the Pakistan innings. Arsalan was dismissed for 17 runs off 32 balls with a four and a six, while Hameed gathered 28 runs off 57 balls with a six. That partnership too ended when he was run out.
Pakistan's top scorer Mohammad Saim made 30 runs off 47 balls with 3 fours and a six. Opening batter Dawood Thauqeer Rana scored 26 runs off 26 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Nevertheless, the Pakistan batting line-up could not build long partnerships against the Sri Lankan bowlers and were all out for 140 runs in 39 overs. Sandaru Malshan stood out with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 16 runs, while Thisanga Perera claimed 2 for 19. Sashith Bandara, Mahiru Kodituwakku and Tharuka Samanjith took a wicket each.
With this victory, the Sri Lanka Under-17 team made a successful start, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series.
Sri Lanka Under-17 team – 239/6 (50 overs) – Methuka Gunaratne 77, Reshon Solomons 42, Yenula Hewawitharana 36, Sashith Bandara 21 not out, Sandaru Malshan 20, Adeesha Lakshan 12 not out, Stevaughn Peiris 10, Mohammad Ihsan 43/3, Fahad Iqbal 49/2,
Pakistan Under-17 team – 140 (39 overs) – Mohammad Saim 30, Hameed Raza 28, Dawood Thauqeer Rana 26, Arsalan Hassan 17, Sandaru Malshan 16/3, Thisanga Perera 19/2
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting