Ramith blasts England attack

Dilanka Mannakkara

The Sri Lanka youth team thrashed the English under 19 by a massive 137 runs as Opener Ramith Rambukwella and Middle order bat Dhananjaya de Silva smashed the English bowling in to all corners with some delightful stroke play.

Sri Lanka scored a mammoth 325 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs as opener Rambukwella hit a sparkling 66 of just 39 balls to give the side a blistering start.

Ramith hit 8 fours and 4 massive sixes in his innings while the English side could only muster a paltry 188 in 40.4 overs.

Shehan Jayasuriya played a sedate knock of 73 in 108 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva scored a terrific 79 off just 59 balls and was well supported by the in form Skipper Rajapaksa who scored a stroke filled 42. The England bowlers were massacred as A Ball conceded 59 runs of just 6 overs being the most expensive of the lot. Gurman Randhawa was the standout bowler for England as he took 1 wicket for just 34 runs in his 10 overs. The English side was under tremendous pressure when they came to bat and lost wickets at regular intervals. A Javid was the only batsman to show some respite with a fighting knock of 61 runs. Left arm spinner Amila Aponso spun a web around the English batsmen claiming 4 wickets for just 25 runs.

Skipper Rajapaksa who opened the bowling claimed 2 wickets as well.

Sri Lanka: 325 for 6 in 50 overs (Ramith Rambukwella 66, Dananjaya de Silva 71, Shehan Jayasuriya 73, G Randhawa 1 for 34).

England: 188 all out in 40.4 overs. (A Javid 61, R Singh 25 - Amila Aponso 4 for 25, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2 for 23).