England U19 268 for 9 (Benkenstein 102) beat Sri Lanka U19 260 (Weerasinghe 80, Perera 53) by means of 4 runs – DLS
The Essex batter made 102 in England’s 268 for 9 in a competition lowered to 45 overs as a result of raindrops. In gloomy situations Gayana Weerasinghe led Sri Lanka’s answer with a elegant 80 off 76 balls and Mahith Perera’s half-century threatened to rush his facet to victory. However Perera was once by means of Freddie McCann’s direct crash within the forty third over and the Sri Lankan tail have been gone with excess to do.
England had received the toss and Nottinghamshire’s McCann, who made 174 in Monday’s win at the similar tone, took a peek the temper to construct Sri Lanka pay when wicketkeeper Sharujan Shanmuganathan dropped a easy catch in the second one over when he had but to attain. McCann took 3 limitations in an over off Hivun Kenula however upcoming gave off-spinner Vihas Thewmika a easy go back catch within the 8th over.
It was once one in every of 3 wickets to fall sooner than the raindrops arrived within the sixteenth over but if play games resumed Benkenstein, who made 51 within the first duel of the form at Chelmsford closing Friday, and Essex team-mate Charlie Allison began to prosper.
Benkenstein’s first 50 runs got here off 69 balls and his spouse was once simplest relatively faster (62 balls) to his half-century sooner than each pressed the accelerator. Benkenstein wanted simply 29 extra deliveries to succeed in his hundred, which integrated seven fours and 5 sixes, as he performed competitive pictures on either side of the wicket.
Allison contributed an important 87 off 85 balls to a be on one?s feet of 184 in 29 overs, with seven fours and two sixes, sooner than he performed directly to Thewmika looking to crash him over mid-wicket within the thirty seventh over. Benkenstein flayed a widish supply from Dinura Kalupahana to deep backward level for 102 within the nearest over and England misplaced momentum.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers dragged it again smartly within the latter overs, taking 6 for 44 in 7.2 overs with Thewmika completing with 4 for 33. It left them desiring 269 at 5.9 runs an over.
England’s seamers chipped away when Sri Lanka spoke back. Harry Moore needy via by means of bowling Hiran Jayasundara throughout the gate and McCann picked up the primary of 2 wickets along with his off breaks when Pulindu Perera reverse-swept directly to gully.
Debutant Alex Inexperienced had left-hander Shanmuganathan smartly stuck by means of Allison, diving ahead at deep mid-wicket, and when Noah Thain’s tender away-swing accounted for captain Dinura Kalupahana along with his first ball, Sri Lanka wanted 144 in 21 overs.
Weerasinghe and Mahith Perera saved them within the hunt, placing on 64 for the 5th wicket in 9 overs, however England maintained a cheerful knack of placing after they had to and Weerasinghe drove Dom Kelly’s slower ball to mid-off the place Benkenstein held a just right catch.
Sri Lanka hopes now rested with the wristy Perera whose be on one?s feet with Diniru Abeywickramasingha gave the impression to be taking them over the form. However Abeywickramasingha mis-timed a scoop later they’d added 46 for the 7th wicket and Perera (53 off 54 balls) was once brilliantly by means of McCann’s direct crash from backward level as England held their nerve.
