England Young Lions sign off with consolation win

Saturday, 11 December 2021 00:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka U-19 team that won the five-match series 3-2

England Young Lions ended their tour of Sri Lanka with a consolation 48-run win in the fifth and final Under-19 ODI played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

England off-spinner Tom Prest returned career best figures of 6/41 to dismiss Sri Lanka for 166 in reply to England’s score of 214/8 built on opener William Luxton’s well-paced innings of 84* off 119 balls (four fours, one six) before being forced to retire hurt with cramps.

The five-match series ended with Sri Lanka winning it 3-2. Having already taken a winning lead in the fourth ODI, Sri Lanka rested their captain Dunith Wellalage along with five other regulars for this game. Vice-Captain Raveen de Silva led the side.

England didn’t have the best of starts after being invited to bat first, slipping to 95/6 in 26 overs, but recovered through their seventh wicket pair Luxton and Alex Horton (36) who put on 93 runs. Left-arm seamer Vinuja Ranpul, who rattled England’s top order, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/45.

Sri Lanka also suffered early setbacks, losing Shevon Daniel to the first ball of the innings to Prest, who opened the bowling and lost half the side for 74. Sadeesha Rajapaksa tried to anchor the innings with 66 off 77 balls (seven fours) but found no support from the other end and was the last to be dismissed.

Wellalage won the Player of the Series award.

Result:

England Young Lions 214-8 (50) (William Luxton 84 rtd ht, Alex Horton 36, Thomas Aspinwall 20*, Vinuja Ranpul 4/45, Sadisha Rajapaksa 2/17) beat Sri Lanka U-19 166 (35.1) (Abisheak Liyanaarachchi 24, Sadisha Rajapaksa 66, Sakuna Liyanage 20, Tom Prest 6/41, Thomas Aspinwall 2/22) by 48 runs. – (ST)