Sri Lanka under 19 win ODI series 3-2

Sri Lanka under 19 team captained by young Chathura Peiris, under the watchful eyes of coach Naveed nawaz toured Australia for a five match one day series. the tour was a great success, since the young lads got the better of their counter parts on pitches that had extra bounce.

The selection process to pick the final squad was a long one, since the school selectors scrutinized 116 players from all provinces. The Sri Lanka under 19 team played their first ODI on the 2nd of October, which was trimmed down to 25 overs due overnight rain.

Winning the toss Sri Lankan skipper invited the Australians to take first lease of the gardens oval pitch in Darwin. The Australians made 182 in their allotted 25 overs with tom beaton and N. Maddinson, the former scoring 59 and the latter 46. For Sri Lanka seamers Chathura Peiris and Charith Jayampathie got among the wickets capturing 2 wickets each. Sri Lanka under 19, lost the lung opener by 18 runs despite a brave effort by Kithruwan Vithanage who made 47 with four fours and 2 sixes.

Sri Lanka were on target, on 139 for 3 wickets at one stage, however a middle order struggle cost the Sri Lankans the game.

The 2nd ODI at the same venue saw the Aussies pile up 252 runs for 8 wickets with Nick Maddinson top scoring with a run a ball 133 that included 11 fours and 4 big sixes.

All the Sri Lankan bowlers were put to the sword, however skipper Chathura Peiris stuck to his wicket taking ways by claiming 3 wickets.sri lanka's reply was exquisite, winning this encounter in 38.5 overs with Banuka Rajapaksha enjoying a field day at the expense of the hapless Aussie bowlers by scoring 154 runs in just 11 balls that included 14 boundaries and 8 massive hits over the ropes.

Romesh Buddika played the supporting role with an elegant 57. The end result read a huge 7 wicket win for Sri Lanka.

The 3rd ODI was a big struggle for the Australians. The Sri Lankan seamers got their act on a uneven track, to restrict the Australians to 160 all out in 49.2 overs.

Number 10 Luke Doran made 26, while the rest of the Aussies were undone by Charith Jayampathi, Chathura Peiris and 3rd seamer Banuka Rajapaksha. Sri Lanka took a 2-1 lead in the 5 match series by getting to the target of 161 in just 34 overs, loosing 5 wickets. Kithruwan Vithanage proved to be consistent with another half century when he top scored with a workman like 61.

The 4th ODI was disappointing from a Sri Lankan perspective. Taking first lease of the Marrara cricket grounds at Darwin the young lions were bowled out for 155 runs in 45 overs.

Six top order batsman were back in the hut, with the score on 67, however the middle order helped by Mahesh Gunathileke and Charith Jayampathi, managed to score a respectable score on a seamers paradise. The Aussie batsman in pursuit of 156 levelled the series with an emphatic win by 6 wickets, and with 72 balls to spare.

Phil Handscomb on 38 and tim Armstrong with a patient 39 were responsible for australia to reach the modest target.

The 5th and the final game, that would decide the series winner was played yet again at the marrara grounds in Darwin. The Australians put into bat on a turning pitch struggled against top quality spin dished out by Rushan Jaleel and Saranga Rajaguru.

The finger spin of Jaleel and the wrist spin of Rajaguru saw the home team crash to their lowest total of the series. It was all over for the Australians bowled out in 37.3 overs for 122 runs. It will be unfair to state that Sri Lanka reached the target with ease.

Sri Lanka with 5 wickets down for 70, were vulnerable and the game could have gone either way. the consistency of the middle order helped Sri Lanka reach the target in 23.2 overs, loosing 6 wickets in the process, before winning the series by 5 - 3.