Rain spoils Sri Lanka's winning streak

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

The fourth ODI between the Sri Lanka under 19 and the England under 19 ended in a disappointing no result as the torrid rain affected the match severely.When umpires called off play England were 41 for one wicket in 7.1 overs chasing 150 runs.

The match was reduced to 20 overs per side and England won the toss and elected to field under gloomy overcast conditions. The game which was to be played at Colts grounds was shifted to the NCC grounds in the last minute and the Lankan team which was on a roll to achieve a 5-0 whitewash had to pay the price for it. However it is ironic that the SSC and NCC being adjoining grounds and SSC holding a full match and NCC not being able to do so.

The in form Lankan openers were off to a blistering start as Ramith Rambukwella and Shehan Jayasuriya blasted the English attack to all corners. Rambukwella fell for 27 runs when the score was on 55 and Shehan continued the onslaught with some clean hitting and top scored for the home team with a superb 60 of just 43 balls.

Shehan's knock included five well timed boundaries and one massive six. However he got very little support from the star studded middle order as Skipper Rajapksha, Yasodha Lanka and Chathuranga Kumara failed to add any significant contribution to the total. Sri Lanka ended up scoring 150 inside the allotted 20 overs as last man Saranga Rajaguru was out in the second last ball of the innings. Matt Dunn and Lewis Gregory took three wickets a piece for England.

England were off to an inauspicious start as opener Bell was out for 7 runs. Thereafter Rossington and Gregory steadied the ship and they were 41 for one wicket before play was called off. Chathuranga Kumara grabbed the solitary wicket to fall.

Sri Lanka: 150 all out in 19.5 overs.(S.Jayasuriya 60, R.rambukwella 27, Y.Lanka 19, Dunn 3 for 28,Gregory 3 for 35)

England: 41 for 1 in 7.1 overs (Rossington 21n.o.,Gregory 10 n.o. C.Kumara 1 for 16)