Sri Lanka kick-start U19 Asia Cup with facile win

Friday, 6 November 2026 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Kumarasinghe routs Malaysia for 88

Right-arm medium-fast bowling all-rounder Kaushika Kumarasinghe ripped through the Malaysian batting line-up for 88 taking 5/30 off 6 overs to give Sri Lanka a winning start to their Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under19 Asia Cup campaign at Al Amerat, Oman yesterday.

Invited to bat first Oman were bowled out in 28.1 overs with Kumarasinghe, a former first eleven captain of Kandy St Anthony’s College, running through the opposition, keeping things simple and straight to bundle them out for a paltry total.

Only one batsman entered double figures – opener Syamil Aqil who hit 51 off 50 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) before falling to leg-spinner Vigneshwaran Akash who finished with figures of 3/7 off 4.1 overs.

Despite losing skipper Viran Chamuditha for a third ball duck, Sri Lanka had no problems reaching their target of 89. Rehan Peiris, Royal College, Colombo’s prolific run-scorer hit a flawless 54* off 45 balls (7 fours, 1 six) and shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 91 off 81 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda (30* off 35 balls, 4 fours) to see Sri Lanka home by nine wickets with plenty to spare.

Sri Lanka plays Bangladesh who lost to Afghanistan by 113 runs yesterday in their next Group B match on Saturday.

Scores:

Malaysia (U19) 88 (28.1) (Syamil Akli 51, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 5/30, Vigneshwaran Akash 3/7) are defeated by Sri Lanka (U19) 91-1 (13.5) (Rehan Peiris 54*, Senuja Wekunagoda 30*)