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Player of the Match Chamika Heenatigala (left) and Rasith Nimsara celebrate Sri Lanka’s victory
Sri Lanka won a crucial Group B of the Under-19 Asia Cup when they beat Afghanistan by two wickets with four balls to spare at Dubai yesterday.
The win was Sri Lanka’s second in as many games and placed them right on top of Group B with four points. Bangladesh who have also won both their matches lie second also with four points. Net run rate separates the two sides.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh who are already through to the semi-finals will meet tomorrow in the final game to decide the group leaders.
Yesterday’s defeat which was Afghanistan’s second in successive matches left them without any points alongside Nepal who also have a similar record.
Sri Lanka’s match winner against Afghanistan was Mahanama College all-rounder Chamika Heenatigala. He took 2/33 with his left-arm spin and then played a vital innings of 51* off 57 balls (3 fours, 1 six) to guide Sri Lanka to victory in a wobbly chase to reach their target of 236.
Sri Lanka at one point well placed to win comfortably at 170-4 in the 38th over but lost wickets cheaply to slump to 217-8. Heenatigala stood steadfast at one end and with a cool head saw Sri Lanka home when he smote Abdul Aziz’s first two balls of the final over for a six and a four when eight was needed.
Opener Viran Chamuditha held the early part of the innings together with an assertive innings of 62 off 83 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) along with Kavija Gamage who made 34 off 46. Right-arm fast bowler Sethmika Seneviratne who bowled Sri Lanka to victory against Nepal with a haul of five wickets was once again the prime bowler with 3/49 along with Dulnith Sigera (3/33).
Scores: Afghanistan (Under-19) 235 (49.5) (Osman Sadat 52, Faisal Shinozada 39, Uzairullah Niazai 25, Mahboob Khan 25, Azizullah Miakhil 31, Nooristani Omarzai 29, Sethimika Seneviratne 3/49, Rasith Nimsara 2/42, Dulnith Sigera 3/33, Chamika Heenatigala 2/33)
Sri Lanka (Under-19) 238-8 (49.2) (Dimantha Mahavithana 27, Viran Chamuditha 62, Kavija Gamage 34, Chamika Heenatigala 51*, Dulnith Sigera 22, Nooristani Omarzai 3/52)
Viran Chamuditha contributed a valuable 62 at the top of the order
