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Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from Dubai

SHARJAH, Wednesday - Sri Lanka suffered their first defeat in the Asia Cup under 15 Youth cricket tournament when they lost their last Super League fixture by six wickets to the Pakistan team at the Sharjah stadium here yesterday.

Electing to bat first Sri Lanka team had a bad start losing their opener Sachirthra Serasinghe for 5. Wicket keeping opening batsman Sameera Sozsa and Thulinidu Thirimanna then put on 59 runs for the second wicket. Soysa scored 31 with five boundaries in 40 balls while Thirimanna chipped in with 19 with three boundaries made in only 23 balls. But with the introduction of spinners Sri Lanka lost wickets regularly and finally managed to score an unimpressive 161 for 9 in their allotted 40 overs.

Only skipper Angelo Mathew who was needlessly run out for 39 made any serious contribution from the middle order. Number eight Sudesh Fernando contributed with a quick fire 21 with 2 boundaries. Sri Lanka was bogged down and never went for their shots nor was not making a great effort to take the 'would be' singles. The team scored only 12 boundaries as against the Pakistani team's 19 boundaries and 2 sixes. A total of 30 extras including 21 wides also contributed towards the Sri Lankan score. Nasir Ahamed and Suleman Ali captured two wickets each for Pakistan.

Pakistan was given a shock start when they lost their opener LBW without scoring to skipper Angelo Mathew. However skipper Fazal Mohamed took responsibility of the situation and scored an unbeaten 63 off 96 balls to guide his team to victory. He scored two towering sixes and 6 boundaries. Only Mathew could make any impact in the bowling taking two wickets for 27 runs. The Lanka team also bowled 21 wides. Pakistan captain Fazal Mohamed said that a better fight was expected from the Sri Lankans. "Sri Lankans started confidently but could not keep up their good work."

Scores:

Sri Lanka 161 for 9 in 40 overs. ( S. Soysa 31, T. Thirimanna 19, A. Mathew 39, S. Fernando. 21. Nasir Ahamed 2 for 30 Suleman Ali 2 for 21)

Pakistan 162 for 4 in 44.4 overs. (Fazzaz Ahamed 29. Fazal Mohamed 63 (no) Adnan Raza 19, Salman Akbar 20 - Angelo Mathew 2 for 27.)

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